The first major construction contract has been awarded at Liverpool's largest regeneration scheme, marking another step forward in the £200 million transformation of a key city centre site.

Joint venture partners, Merepark and Ballymore, have appointed the McGee Group on a £7 million design and build contract for the first phase of development at Central Village.

The firm will construct a 459-space, Q-Park multi-storey car park at the site, which is bounded by Bold Street and Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre. Work will begin in the summer and is scheduled for completion in June 2011.

The announcement follows the news Bouwfonds European Real Estate Parking Fund has agreed to forward purchase the multi-storey car park, which will be operated by Q Park under a 35 year lease.

Ian Jones, Director at Merepark commented: "These announcements are a clear sign of the continued momentum at Central Village. After years of careful planning, negotiation and acquisitions it will be very satisfying to see our plans begin to come to fruition. We're now looking forward to seeing the first phases of Central Village emerge."

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Chris Wright, Head of Business Development at McGee Group commented: "McGee Group has been working with Merepark for a long time in preparation for this project and we are delighted to be getting started on phase one of the development. Work on site will start very soon."

McGee is a family business which has been operating successfully in London for over 50 years. The Group recently completed a multi-phase development at Stables Market in the world famous Camden Market, transforming the iconic site. In 2009, the company opened an office in the North West and it is now looking to expand its operations in the region.

Central Village will extend Liverpool's retail and leisure core with a cinema, two new hotels, an apart-hotel, residential apartments and public parking as well as retail outlets, restaurants, bars, cafes, offices and extensive new public spaces.

The development will also see the complete refurbishment of the iconic Lewis' building and extensive improvement works to Liverpool Central Station. The scheme will be knitted together by four substantial new public spaces, including a new plaza with a boardwalk and spectacular water feature, designed by acclaimed US landscape architect Martha Schwartz.

For further information visit: www.mcgee.co.uk