LIVERPOOL developers that are helping reshape the city centre believe common sense measures are behind ensuring success.
The Daily Post Regional Property Awards will celebrate such major successes within the property market at a gala event in April.
A total of 10 categories are up for grabs and the cream of the region’s developers will hotly contest each award.
Last year, the Mixed Use Development of the Year award was won by EC Harris for the Port of Liverpool Building. The Downing home refurbishment of one of the celebrated Grade II* listed Three Graces won the accolade for high-quality and sensitive design.
Companies such as Downing and Vermont Developments, a Liverpool-based property group, are engaged in reusing space and building properties that fulfil more than one function.
Vermont’s success is evident.
In the last week, it announced record-breaking sales in the first phase of its £100m Quarter. It has sold 83% of the 187 apartments in this section.
The properties, at the junction of Sefton Street and Parliament Street, have all been sold off plan. Vermont believes this bodes well for the second phase of 112 apartments, located in the 22-storey glazed tower, which have recently been released for sale.
Much of the success, according to chief executive Mark Connor, comes down to getting the basics right. If these are in place, then sales and a good product in the right place should overcome a downturn in the residential property market.
Mr Connor said: “While it is true we are all having to work harder to achieve sales, these figures prove the right product in the right location and priced at sensible values will always sell.”
In its St Paul’s Square development, Vermont has three office buildings, with retail or leisure space in the ground floors, a car park and an apartment scheme that is fairly unusual.
On final completion, the Square will be home and a place of work for some 2,500 people.
But once again the project has a keen eye on making sure it not only suits its environment but enhances the neighbourhood.
The developer, English Cities Fund, is a public-private body set up to assist regeneration.
As such, it has a slightly different agenda from other developers. It believes in “place making” and wants to avoid turning St Paul’s Square into another buy-to-let ghetto, and rather create a genuine new city centre community.
It has focused its marketing effort on owner-occupiers and resisted the investor market. It can afford to do this because the commercial aspect of the scheme has been a runaway success, achieving massive pre-lets for law firm Hill Dickinson, DWF and HBOS bank.
The Mixed Use category remains open for sponsorship and nominees for this year’s awards can still be sent. Candidates for this particular category need to take notice of Vermont’s basic formula for success and have demonstrated a first rate execution of mixed use development.
Companies wishing to register their interest should contact the events team on 0151 330 4974 or email regionalpropertyawards@dailypost.co.uk.
An online application is also available on www.liverpool dailypost.co.uk/rpa and deadline for entries is Friday, February 22, with the winners announced on Friday April 11.
richarddown
