THE first phase of Liverpool's controversial city centre movement strategy (CCMS) is on the shortlist for a major award later this month.
The nomination by the national Civic Trust charity is for the work carried out at several prominent sites around the city.
Phase One included the transformation of Williamson Square and the revamp of the Cavern Quarter, as well as work in East Moorfields and Covent Garden.
Liverpool is one of a number of projects across the UK's urban areas to have been shortlisted. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at Lord's cricket ground in London on March 29.
CCMS is the umbrella term for an extensive £73m programme designed to improve the city centre. The project is a partnership between Liverpool council, Merseytravel and Liverpool Vision.
As part of Phase One, a major package of improvements was carried out at Williamson Square, with the installation of granite paving, a selection of semi-mature trees, and new seating and lighting.
The centrepiece of the £2.5m scheme was a new fountain which shoots jets of water into the sky at various heights and is surrounded by a poem set in granite, written by Liverpool poet Roger McGough, who officially opened the fountain in 2004.
The scheme in the Cavern Quarter cost £1.4m and consisted of a complete reconstruction of the pavements and roads.
It also included the creation of a new lighting system - inspired by The Beatles' classic Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - made up of a canopy of lights above the streets.
The work in East Moorfields and Covent Garden, costing £4.5m, included the creation of a new public space in Hewitt's Place, with high-quality paving, new trees, feature lighting, sculptures and seating.
