Controversial plans to transform the face of Lime Street have been halted.
Liverpool City Council formally terminated its deal to redevelop the city’s gateway after its chosen contractor NMCN Ltd fell into administration.
The project had been due for completion in December but will now undergo a delay of several months as part of a new three-step process around the site.
Council bosses will sanction a full assessment of the current situation in Lime Street before a new tender process of four to six weeks for a new contractor.
A revised timetable now sees the scheme approaching sign-off in spring 2022.
The £47 million redevelopment has split opinion in the city, not least as one of its main features is cutting traffic down to a single lane in each direction.
“Liverpool City Council has legally terminated the contract for the Lime Street development scheme, owing to the contractor, NMCN, going into administration.
“The council’s highways department has already begun the task of making the site safe.
“It will now seek to ensure Lime Street will be accessible as possible in the run up to the busy Christmas period for the city centre.
“A full assessment of the site will now take place to establish what works are needed to complete the scheme.
“It is hoped the Lime Street development scheme will be completed before the start of spring 2022.”