WORK on a £7m office development just outside Liverpool city centre will begin when a pre-let has been secured, a property agent has told LDP Business.

Full planning permission was granted late last year for the 54,000 sq ft One Brunswick Place at Brunswick Business Park, which is around 1.5 miles south of the city centre.

The developer is Liverpool-based North West Industrial Estates and when completed the five-storey building will offer views across the River Mersey.

The building will offer grade A space, including air conditioning and full access raised floors, and will be constructed to achieve the highest energy efficiency ratings.

Jonathan Swain, of joint agents Mason & Partners, said: “The location of One Brunswick Place will fulfil a niche in the market by appealing to occupiers from both city centre and out-of- town locations, by offering close proximity to city amenities as well as excellent car park ratios, unattainable in the city’s traditional office core or at many rival out-of-town business parks.

“Brunswick Business Park also benefits from excellent public transport links being situated on a major bus route and opposite Brunswick Merseyrail Station, which further enhances the sustainability of the location.”

A pre-let is the key to work starting on the project.

Since the credit crunch, banks are far less willing to lend for commercial property projects, especially speculative schemes.

Also, the Government’s decision to abolish much of the rate relief available for empty commercial properties has proved to be a powerful disincentive for developers. Mason & Partners will be working aongside CB Richard Ellis and Keppie Massie over the coming weeks in an attempt to secure the vital pre-let.

Mr Swain added: “When we can sign a tenant up for all of it, or a significant part, we can start work on site.

“We’re marketing it at the moment and there’s a brochure and marketing campaign in place.”