Light pod tops off ambitious Pools conversion

Jul 27 2007 by Staff Reporter, Liverpool Daily Post

LITTLEWOODS’ historic art deco former Pools building is to be converted into an impressive apartments, hotel, retail and leisure complex – topped with a “light pod” viewing gallery.

The huge project will transform the Edge Lane site – one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks – and see the creation of 1,000 jobs.

The £60m plan, revealed yesterday, is part of an impressive £220m portfolio that award-winning developers Urban Splash are involved with in the city.

If three separate plans by the company get the go-ahead, the portfolio will also see 700 apartments erected on a former council estate in Great George Street near the city’s Anglican Cathedral.

And revised plans for a 64-storey apartment and office block (reduced from 88 floors) in city centre Old Haymarket, formerly Manchester Street is also being planned.

But it is the transformation of the Littlewoods building, which has been empty since 2003, that is likely to create the biggest impact.

The £60m first phase of the project, being called the Digital Village, will comprise of a residential and commercial area.

The apartments, ranging from penthouses to one-bedroom flats, will be built in the west-wing, and work will begin early next year assuming the application is successful.

The east-wing will then be turned into 100,000 sq ft of commercial space, which will generate the jobs.

New offices will also be built, and could be accompanied by leisure facilities and Urban Splash is in talks with prospective partners about a 100-bed hotel.

An impressive “light pod” that will feature at the top of the famous clock tower could house a restaurant or bar, but may be left simply as a viewing gallery.

Urban Splash are confident that despite a potential over-supply of apartments in Liverpool their developments will prove a winner.

Last night managing director Bill Maynard said: “We have been working with the city council for quite some time now on the Great George Street project.”

He said the development would have a combination of rented social housing, shared ownership flats, and apartments on the open market.

“We are hoping to start it by the end of the year. It’s a huge site and the whole build will take about seven to eight years.

“It’s the biggest residential scheme in the city centre so far.

“I can’t think of anything bigger.”

The development will comprise six blocks with the highest being 15 storeys and the shortest six storeys. There will also be 15 homes.

Asked whether he was concerned about the over-supply of apartments in the city, he said: “It’s always a concern, but I think the evidence sometimes is contradictory.

“The key test for us is the quality of the product.”

Mr Maynard said the Old Haymarket scheme had been amended following negotiations with the city council and English Heritage because of the sensitive location of the development.

It will now have nine floors instead of 11, seven of which will be set aside for 64 apartments, a reduction of 24.

The first two floors will have about 10,000sq ft of commercial space.

“We were conscious that it’s a very important historic area,” added Mr Maynard.

He said the new height of the building and the way the top two floors were now “sculptured” would preserve historic views in the area.

The development will also feature a public square with a coffee house.

“We want to do a beautiful conversion that will be really good for the city, and that people are proud of.

“Liverpool has a great physical heritage in building stock, and the building is an important landmark that must be saved.”

The proposed development signals another milestone in the Edge Lane Project, run by Liverpool Land Development Company, to regenerate the science and technology park.

The village will primarily appeal to young entrepreneurs, city-centre workers, or those already living and working in the Edge Lane area.

Rob Monaghan, development director of Liverpool Land Development Company, said it was further evidence of Liverpool’s booming economy.

“The city has a friendly and supportive environment for business, and Capital of Culture has given fresh impetus to the resurgence.”

The Urban Splash development is expected to take six years.