Canning Dock Redevelopment: What to Expect
Anyone who has ever been to Liverpool’s waterfront will know that it is a storied part of the city, with plenty of different things to do. Whether you want to head into the museum, walk around the Albert Dock, or check out what’s on offer at the Tate, there are options aplenty for people down the front.
The good news is that those options are going to expand even further in the near future, thanks to the work that is being carried out at Canning Quayside and the dry docks.
It is a part of town that offers a glimpse into Liverpool’s maritime history, but what are the changes that we can expect to see there once the redevelopment is complete?
National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project
It might seem needlessly wordy, but the Waterfront Transformation Project in Liverpool, which is being overseen by National Museums, is expected to cost around £15 million. Of that, £10 million will come from the £4.8 billion put forward by the government’s Levelling Up fund. Part of the plans include the south dry dock, which was built in 1765, becoming accessible to the public.
There will be a new stop wall put in place behind the timber gates that currently exist there, whilst a staircase and lift will make the area accessible to the public for the first time, peeling back the layers of part of Liverpool’s history that has remained largely covered.
@theguideliverpool Canning Dock transformation has received the green light! 🤩 Liverpool’s iconic waterfront is set to undergo a significant transformation with the latest milestone reached in the National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project. National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project has now secured planning permission, which aims to revitalise the Canning Quaysides and Dry Docks into a space for education, contemplation and recreation. At the heart of this £15 million redevelopment lies the restoration of the south dry dock, constructed in 1765, to make it accessible to the public for the first time. Thanks to a £10 million contribution from the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ fund, plans include the construction of a new stop wall, a staircase, and a lift, enabling visitors to explore this historic site. Plans also feature a twin-lever footbridge from the Royal Albert Dock across to the Canning quayside. The wider public realm will be enhanced with level pathways, an open-air events space, and significant improvements to the interpretation of items around the site. Construction work on the designs, which are being led by architects, Asif Khan Studio, and internationally renowned artist, Theaster Gates, are due to start in autumn 2024. Find out more on our website 📲 Images of transformation plans by: Asif Khan Studio Image of Liverpool Waterfront: NML / Ant Clausen #TheGuideLiverpool #LiverpoolWaterfront #CanningDock #NationalMuseumsLiverpool #liverpoolwaterfronttransformation #WaterfrontTransformationProject ♬ Motivational Inspiration – OlexandrMusic
A twin-lever footbridge will be put in place from the Royal Albert Dock over to the Canning quayside. Level pathways will help to enhance the wider public realm, with an open-air event space and improvements also put in place to numerous items around the site. Asif Khan Studios are the architects designing the work, alongside the renowned artist Theaster Gates.
The history of Canning Dock is rooted in Liverpool’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, which is a shameful part of the city’s past that needs to be properly acknowledged. The dock itself was used for the cleaning and repairing of ships before they sailed.
Working with the Local Community
In order to make sure that the story of Canning Dock is properly told, Asif Khan Studio has worked with a number of different local community partners. The likes of 20 Stories High, Writing on the Wall, Squash and Liverpool Black History Research Group have all been involved.
The aim is to ensure that the communities of Liverpool are engaged and represented when it comes to the design and narrative of the future of Canning Dock. The Museum of Liverpool’s Head, Liz Stewart, made reference to the fact that this is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to enhance the experience that people have when spending time in the space.
Canning Dock Liverpool 1895.
Work that must have taken place thousands of times over around 200 years.— David Hearn (@daveyph.bsky.social) Mar 4, 2026 at 11:49
In what is planned to be a ‘transformational’ project, there is the chance to offer a genuine reflection of the ‘profound historic significance’ of the site, rather than to simply ignore the more unpleasant parts of the city’s history as has been done in the past.
The ideas that have been put forward by the various community groups have been integrated into the design where possible, whilst the new pedestrian bridge linking the Canning quayside with the Albert Dock will simply make the experience of walking around the area better for visitors. The likes of the International Slavery Museum, Museum of Liverpool and the Maritime Museum are all in close quarters there.
History Uncovered
The process to redevelop the Canning Dock is obviously one that has a duty to recognise Liverpool’s history, but there have already been some historic items uncovered. Some materials that have been found during the construction work in the area have uncovered things that are more than 200 years old, as discovered by archaeologists.
Some of the items were in use in the time of King George III and the move towards the Industrial Revolution, whilst others paint a clearer picture of the city’s involvement with the slave trade. The likes of pieces of porcelain and sugar moulds have been found, which makes sense considering the location.
Pottery was used as part of the process to turn raw sugar into sugar loaves, with the slave-produced sugar being dealt with in Liverpool. The south dry dock has been restricted to the pubic since it was first built in the 1800s, which is what makes the move to allow people to access it once work has been completed in 2029 so exciting.
Archaeologists are always keen to be involved with any work that takes place around the Liverpool waterfront, thanks to the likelihood that interesting artefacts will be uncovered. It allows people to better understand the history of the city, whilst also protecting a heritage site for future generations to enjoy.
