COMMERCIAL agents have been instructed to find a buyer for Merseytravel’s headquarters in Hatton Garden, in Liverpool.

The transport body is due to move its staff into purpose-built accommodation on the city’s waterfront in 2011.

It will vacate its home in Hatton Garden which is too small and has become too expensive to maintain.

It has appointed CB Richard Ellis to find a buyer for the 100-year-old building, which currently comprises 50,000 sq ft of office space.

CBRE’s managing director in Liverpool, Nick Rice, said there were a number of potential uses for the site.

They include keeping it as office space but the space could also be adapted for student accommodation, a hotel or residential units.

Mr Rice added: “Merseytravel’s move to Mann Island will bring its staff from four sites across the city to one location for the first time, so it’s a hugely exciting time for the company.

“Its existing site on Hatton Garden has a great deal of history, hence its listed status, but has become impractical as a long-term location for the business because it isn’t big enough to accommodate all its employees.

“Having worked with Merseytravel on the acquisition of its new site at Mann Island, we are very pleased to be appointed to dispose of the Hatton Garden site. Its great location and flexibility of use means the building is likely to attract a lot of interest, and we are confident of securing a deal before the end of the year.”

CBRE has also been instructed to sub-let 30,000 sq ft of surplus space at the company’s new 140,000 sq ft headquarters at Mann Island.

Spread across three floors, the available Grade A waterfront office accommodation has been designed, according to CBRE, to the highest environmental and accessibility standards. Mark Worthington, director of office agency at CBRE, said: “Mann Island will be a new landmark building for the city, occupying a position at the centre of Liverpool’s waterfront offering some of the best commercial office space currently on the market.”