Liverpool plc blasted for 'small town' mindset

Dec 19 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

THE new superquango known as Liverpool Plc was last night criticised for snubbing new office accommodation at the Unity building – the city's costliest commercial space.

Instead, the organisation will choose to locate its new headquarters at either The Capital or The Plaza buildings, both in Old Hall Street, in the heart of the business district. Both are offering refurbished office space.

Mike Stares, a director of Rumford, creators of Unity, launched a blistering attack on the decision-makers at the new body responsible for attracting inward investment to the city:

"I'm disappointed but not surprised by the small-town mentality of the quangos. As a London-based investor in Liverpool, it’s my view that this sends out the wrong message to other potential investors.

"In fact, they haven’t just shot themselves in the foot, they have machine-gunned both legs. You would have thought the new flagship body representing Liverpool would have looked at moving into new top quality premises rather than refurbished.

"It is all too typical of the attitude I have encountered, unfortunately."

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council declined to comment.

Five sites were originally short-listed but have now been whittled down to two. Both The Capital and The Plaza have been refurbished to Grade A standard.

The Unity costs £22 per square foot while rental rates at the shortlisted sites are around £16.

Chief executives of the three merging organisations – BusinessLiverpool, Liverpool Land Development Company and Liverpool Vision – are weighing up the options but are believed to favour The Capital. However, any recommendation needs to be ratified by the city council.

The search for premises started back in September and was carried out by surveyors Keppie Massie and property consultants at CNP Building and Project Consultants.

The search looked at what was available in the Liverpool market in and around the core central business district for occupation by April, 2008.

Now a decision is to be made between the 5th floor of the Capital Building and the 8th Floor of the Plaza , following negotiations with the landlords and discussions on fitting out costs. The move will create space at the three organisation’s current homes at Estuary Commerce Park, the Observatory and No 1 Old Hall Street.