ARCHITECT Ian Simpson yesterday accused Liverpool City Council of lacking ambition as the Daily Post learned he had parted company with Maro Developments.

Maro, which wanted to build an iconic tower on Liverpool’s waterfront but had its plans rejected by government minister Ruth Kelly, is proposing what Mr Simpson described as a “watered down” replacement scheme in order to gain planning permission. The full details of the new scheme are expected to be ready for unveiling within a few weeks.

Mr Simpson was responsible for the design of what would have been Liverpool’s tallest tower – a 51-storey building on Brunswick Quay.

The £100m project was rejected by the Local Government Secretary in November. Mrs Kelly argued that Liverpool’s World Heritage Site could be damaged and that views of the two cathedrals from Wirral may be obscured – even though her own planning inspector had recommended the tower be given the go-ahead.

Mr Simpson last night said: “Maro is going for a much less ambitious, non-iconic building so they’re just going to get a local architect on board.

“There’s a danger it’s going to be watered down.

“Architecture of great quality can bring hope to a city and lift the spirits – that was what we were trying to do.

“But obviously the client has decided that because the city council has said they want to see something less contentious and of a much lower scale and deliberately non-iconic, that is what they will create.

“I think cities in this day and age need to be ambitious. It’s a missed opportunity. I understand the rationale, obviously the client wants to get planning for something.

“But I feel there’s a danger if the city is starting to be less ambitious for the future where will it go?”

Since the rejection in November, Maro has had high-level discussions with Liverpool City Council about the formulation of an agreed design brief for this key site.

The firm, which has already spent millions of pounds in the planning process, said it is determined to come up with a suitable application, taking on board comments made concerning the develop-ment during the original planning process.

Spokesman for the Maro development team, Jamey Hargreaves, said: “This is a significant project and one we are not going to walk away from. We are keen to invest in Liverpool and create a development of which the city can be proud. We have been impressed by messages from the city council leadership, and want to devise a scheme that can secure planning consent.

“It is still our plan to deliver a development of genuine architectural quality, and we will be happy to work with the city and bodies like CABE and English Heritage to agree a design that will complement this outstanding site.”

Liverpool City Council leader, Warren Bradley, said: “If people are prepared to work together I am confident a scheme can be developed which will meet all our aspirations.”