Plume’s initial task was to support the Derwent Group with the development of Liverpool Shopping Park, a new £100m retail and leisure scheme that would transform a previously run-down piece of land on one of the city’s major road gateways into a new retail and leisure park.

The brief required media relations and PR support for the Derwent Group as various planning applications were made to Liverpool City Council. This involved delivering a full stakeholder engagement programme – liaising with local councillors, schools and residents’ groups – to keep them appraised of planned work, traffic disruption and the new amenities that would be available to the local community.

A full media relations programme was also developed to maximise pre-lets, construction milestones and the subsequent launch of the scheme.  The scheme launched on October 20th 2017 and was marked with the unveiling of the world’s largest Liverbird, made from Meccano in a nod to the site’s history.  The launch secured widespread coverage including local and regional radio and TV, as well as press articles with local, regional and trade sector publications.

Following the launch of Liverpool Shopping Park in 2017, Plume’s remit was expanded to cover the full Derwent Group portfolio – which included various retail, leisure and industrial sites across the north of England including Walkden Town Centre, White City Retail Park in Manchester ad Glass House Business Park in Wigan.  This work focused on announcing new planning applications, the build progress of new schemes, secured lettings and investment in sites.