THE Northwest Development Agency last night issued a stark warning that it would not tolerate another Cloud-style debacle over Liverpool's Mann Island site.
The agency's chief executive, Steve Broomhead, was speaking after it emerged yesterday that National Museums Liverpool want to build one of the world's biggest museums on the site, at a cost of £65m.
NML director Dr David Fleming put the scheme forward following the collapse of the "Cloud" Fourth Grace plan for the site in July. NML is hoping for £34m of funding from the NWDA to part-finance the project, which Dr Fleming says must be a building the people of the city will love.
But Mr Broomhead warned: "I am not having a repeat of the Fourth Grace when right at the start risks were not adequately addressed. We need justification for that sort of investment. We must be clear about this issue before we move forward."
The NWDA is holding a board meeting tomorrow at which the museum plan for the Cloud site - being referred to behind the scenes at the agency as "Project Silver Lining" - will be at the top of the agenda. Concerns focus on whether the proposed Museum of Liverpool project could attract enough visitors from the UK and abroad to make the investment worthwhile.
Mr Broomhead said: "We are doing a number of things at the board meeting on Friday. We will be looking at the implications of the abandonment of the Fourth Grace, and I want to make sure we are aware of the detailed reasons for that and the consequences for the Mann Island site.
"We are then looking at a package of proposals for the site that include the museum, a canal link and provision of high quality open space.
"The board has been asked to look carefully at the issues surrounding the museum. What sort of museum will it be, and the planning issues and issues of how much economic output you can get for investment of that scale.
"We must have vigorous discussion.
"I want my board to be aware of any issues that are around before we move ahead."
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