Green light for revamp of Liverpool’s Debenhams
Grosvenor has secured consent to convert the upper floors of the former department store for leisure use, with a go-kart track lined up for the site.
An application approved by Liverpool City Council rubberstamped Grosvenor’s plan to retain the lower and ground floors for retail, accessed from the main entrance at Lord Street’s junction with South John Street.
The upper floors, offering a combined 80,000 sq ft within the 185,000 sq ft building, will be accessed from Chavasse Park. The store has been vacant since closing in May 2021.
Grosvenor filed its plans in November. The Liverpool One landlord engaged design practice The Studio and planning consultant Avison Young on the project.
As Place North West reported in November, a similar approach is being taken at Wandsworth’s Southside shopping centre, where landlords Investec and Landsec have converted the store into an indoor amusement venue. That attraction, which features go-karting, bowling and street golf, is being operated by Gravity Active Entertainment.
The largest application on Liverpool’s February planning docket, a 392-home proposal from Sourced Developments off Blackstock Street, was withdrawn prior to the meeting by officers over concerns linked to the Local Plan.
All other key items, including a conversion project for a 70-bedroom hotel on Smithdown Road, were approved.
This includes a scheme by Lovell in conjunction with Cobalt Housing to develop a five-acre site on redundant parking land next to the Showcase cinema on the East Lancs Road, Designed by DK-Architects, the Stonedale Crescent project includes eight houses and 80 apartments.
DK-Architects director Dave Gilkes led the project alongside project architect Gethin Hughes.
Hughes said: “We’re delighted that the Stonedale Crescent project has been granted planning permission and we look forward to working with Lovell, Cobalt and the wider project team to deliver much needed affordable housing for the local community”
Re the Blackstock Street proposal, once again we see the “local plan” causing schemes to be withdrawn, just like the one in Baltic Triangle at the last planning committee.
The “local plan” in this case, I assume, wants developers to adhere to a lower percentage of one-bed flats, but why not let the market decide,as we have acres of land behind Leeds Street for other developments to be put forward with a larger number of 2/3 bed flats.
What is required is for someone to actually start building in that area, and draw in the other developers, why is Liverpool always shooting itself in the foot eg the airport, and the cruise terminal delay, etc
By Anonymous
I expect they’ll repurpose the middle floor of St John’s street to something else. It has never worked as something for people to happen upon. Makes sense that this opens up to the park.
Re the whole situation, though, can’t help but think it’s a victim of not arming bigger. A larger, grander unit might well have been occupied by a more premium, sturdier name.
By Jeff
Re the ex Debenhams store, would really like to see a city centre IKEA on the ground and basement floor, as they have announced that as their future strategy.
By Anonymous