Liverpool mixed-use development moves forward

The proposed conversion of a vacant 1960s Liverpool office building into a mixed-use development, which will include 63 additional apartments and a rooftop gym, looks likely to be approved by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee.Sixty Old Hall Street was purchased by hotel developer and operator Signature Living last year for a sum of £1.8m. Its portfolio includes the Shankly Hotel on Victoria Street and serviced apartments across the city centre.The site, which has been unoccupied for about 18 months, will be extended to create five extra floors and will offer 63 apartments in addition to the 52 residential units within the existing building. They will comprise one and two bedrooms.The plans also outline a 5,425 sq ft space comprising a roof top gym and residential accommodation and the current basement and ground floor area will be transformed to include 10,903 sq ft of flexible commercial space.The application has been recommended for approval and will be discussed at Liverpool City Council’s planning meeting on 28 June 2016.The recommendation is subject to requirements such as the payment of £2,000 per dwelling, to be used towards improvements to open space provision in the local area, payment for the planting of street trees together with their ongoing maintenance and other fees in relation to legal costs and administration.Signature Living was established in 2008 and has also acquired One Arthouse Square, the former home of NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, in March 2016. It intends to convert the building, near the FACT arts complex, into a high-specification aparthotel.