Just 35 miles separate the two North West cities of Manchester and Liverpool. It’s an easy drive along the M62, westward, or a 40 minute train ride (from Victoria to Lime Street on the faster rattler), yet they are very different places.
The rivalry, stemming largely from football, is legendary – but, scratch below the surface, and the competition and proclaimed disdain is a bit of an urban myth. Most Mancs like Scousers, most Scousers like Mancs. They have a lot in common with each other, apart from footballing prowess.
Liverpool is, arguably, a more attractive city than Manchester. The Royal Albert Dock and Pier Head, with its 3 Graces and Tate Gallery, beats most buildings in Manchester; the broad expanse of the Mersey is more enticing than the river Irwell, that separates Manchester from Salford. Liverpool has the legacy of the Beatles and others, Manchester the Gallaghers and others.
What is undeniable however from a cursory glance at each respective skylines is that the pace of change in Manchester outstrips that of Liverpool. Yet Liverpool’s main shopping area, Liverpool One, sitting off Lord Street and stretching to the Strand, is arguably (yes we are fence sitting again) beats the Arndale and Market Street for design and aesthetics.
We are conscious, at Block Compliance Ltd, that much of our fledgling marketing channels have been Manc-centric, when, in reality, we have completed passive fire work in London, Leeds, Liverpool and other cities – these will feature as our marketing strategy stretches outward.
It was great then that a recent digital marketing mission took Stuart Walton to Liverpool. He is based in Manchester city centre, running his own company there, and, given that he designed this website and is rather prolific on his social channels, it seemed obvious that he should feature in a roving role for Block Compliance.
One Park West, Liverpool
Here opposite the Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island, on the Strand, we carried out fire door surveys and consultancy here. It’s a distinctive, contemporary building of 17 storeys, designed by architect César Pelli. One Park West consists of 326 apartments, offices, restaurants, cafés and parking. Blocks B and A of One Park West are the 21st and 31st tallest buildings in Liverpool respectively.
96 Wood Street Liverpool
A more historic building, probably dating from the early Victorian era, is a probable factory conversion on a street, running parallel to the iconic Bold Street from the city centre to Chinatown, Liverpool. It may have been a former rope works as it sits in an area called Rope Walks.
It is squatter than One Park West, about a kilometre away on foot, and here Block Compliance Ltd carried out fire door and fire compartmentation surveys – you can see a short reel of Reece Coulson, a senior passive fire surveyor, chatting with Stuart at Lexington 42, Chorlton Street, Manchester. This, of course, will form a separate blog post, in the near future.
Liverpool is a fine city in its own right
It has warm and friendly natives, a multicultural and tolerant atmosphere, two incredible cathedrals straddling Hope Street and a waterfront that is attractive as anywhere in the UK. Manchester is developing faster with more upwardly mobile apartment blocks, with expansion appearing to be relentless.
Block Compliance never quibble about being contracted on passive fire survey work in either wonderful cities.
We think though, objectively, that Manchester is seeing greater economic investment in residential and commercial developments. Its skyscape has been called Manchattan and Manc Kong – and yet, Liverpool, its centre, its docks and Baltic Triangle are all incredibly appealing.
Liverpool or Manchester?
Which city do you prefer?
We love both at Block Compliance Ltd and are lucky to have such gems close to our northern headquarters in Halifax, West Yorkshire (not Nova Scotia!)
