Beatles-linked fire station’s £8m resi conversion completes

Main contractor HMS has finished its refurbishment of the former Allerton Fire and Police Station – which is alluded to in the Fab Four’s song “Penny Lane”.

HMS built the 47 shared ownership homes for its sister company, housing association Torus.

Now known as Station Mews, the project off Mather Avenue comprises a mixture of three semi-detached houses, five townhouses, and 40 apartments. The semi-detached homes all have three bedrooms, while the terraced homes have either three or four. The flats are either one- or two-bedroom residences.

As part of the work, HMS was charged with retaining the fire station’s signature crest, its façade, and external walls.

HMS managing director Paul Worthington said: “This was a challenging, yet rewarding build, seeing the team incorporate modular technologies and traditional build techniques. However, seeing it complete and the intricacies of the build programme shine is really worth it.

“I can’t wait to welcome Station Mews’ latest residents to their new homes and see if this latest iteration of the building is lucky enough to be included in another song!”

The housing scheme took 23 months to build. Credit: via Torus

Torus chief executive Steve Coffey also reflected on the building’s role in its community.

“Our communities are central to every development we undertake, and Station Mews clearly highlights our commitment to work with the fabric of the local area to create something unique and much needed,” Coffey said.

“I’m thrilled to be celebrating this major milestone with the team who worked so hard to transform a forgotten site into something that will continue to benefit the people of Allerton, reflecting the history of this unique building.”

Torus supplied much of the funding for the £8m project, with Homes England contributing £1.7m in grants.

Homes England senior manager Kate Collins said: “At Homes England, we are committed to supporting our partners to increase the supply of good quality affordable housing in the communities where they’re needed most. The development at Station Mews has transformed an otherwise neglected building into much-needed, good-quality, affordable new homes in Allerton.”

The project marks Torus and HMS’s second large-scale resi refurbishment and conversion – the first being the creation of 19 flats and 13 houses at the grade two-listed Ogden’s Tobacco Factory and Clock Tower in Everton.