National Museums Liverpool has recently announced plans for its landmark Waterfront Transformation Project, which is expected to transform part of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront over the course of the next decade. Made possible by the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund, the project aims to create vibrant and welcoming spaces for visitors, while also acting as a catalyst for social and environmental improvements in the area. The project will focus on the area between the Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island, with plans to reshape and renew this part of the waterfront and the local National Museums Liverpool facilities.
The expansion of the International Slavery Museum in Royal Albert Dock is expected to convert what is currently a series of galleries into a world-leading museum covering all aspects of historic and modern slavery, including the waterfront’s history and the Liverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. At the same time, the heritage and maritime history of the adjacent Canning Dock will be revealed, with two drydocks renewed and upgraded to enhance the experience for visitors and the potential for events and performances.
The Waterfront Transformation Project will further include a series of improvements at the Museum of Liverpool, with new spaces, more immersive visitor experiences and improvements to hospitality areas. A number of historic dockside buildings will also be refurbished and opened to the public, including the Cooperage, Mermaid House, the Pilotage, the Piermaster’s House, the Great Western Railway Warehouse and Hartley Hut.