ACL’s 90 Duke Street completes

One of the biggest shipping lines operating into Liverpool, Atlantic Container Line, has completed its new UK headquarters at 90 Duke Street.

The shipping giant will occupy half of the 40,000 sq ft building, according to UK managing director Ian Higby, leaving 20,000 sq ft of space available to lease on the ground and first floor of the building.

ACL, which is part of the Grimaldi Group of Naples, will move 168 staff into the building from its Princes Dock office in October.

Property company Network Space developed the building on behalf of ACL, having originally acquired the derelict buildings and vacant site from the Homes & Communities Agency. Main contractor Wates Construction started on the steel framed building in November 2014, working to a design by architects DLA Design.

Higby added: “We are looking for businesses to join us, in this exciting new building, who share ACL’s vision to invest in the regeneration of Liverpool and create jobs for talented local people. ACL has nearly doubled its staff numbers over the last couple of years and we expect further growth with our five new fourth generation container roll-on, roll-off vessels. These ships are coming into service this year and will double ACL’s capacity on the North Atlantic service and are the biggest container roll-on, roll-off ships ever built. ”

Jonathan Baucher, partner at Cushman & Wakefield, is letting agent on the building.

The project was supported with £2.82m European Regional Development Fund grants and £1.38m Chrysalis funding.