CERT to start Liverpool office-to-resi after planning snub
The developer was refused permission to convert the vacant Centric House into homes in June and will now proceed with the project under permitted development rights.
Liverpool City Council rejected CERT’s attempts to secure approval for the conversion twice. The authority’s planning committee took exception to the project’s absence of affordable homes while CERT argued including them would render the scheme unviable.
The committee’s protestations have ultimately proved futile, with CERT forced to take advantage of recently changed PD rules.
As of March 2024, the upper limit on the size of buildings that can be converted from offices to apartments under PD has lifted.
“Planning reform is a hot topic,” said Howard Lord, CERT’s managing director.
“In our view, the viability process is something that requires specific focus from Labour’s newly formed government to help the process run smoothly and ensure housing targets are met.”
The scheme will see the 27,000 sq ft Moorfields building transformed into 46 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The roof extension proposed under the rejected plans will not go ahead; this type of work does not full within the scope of PD.
CERT has appointed Truman Design & Build, which recently completed the Molo Hotel scheme on Duke Street in Liverpool.
Truman is due to take possession of the site next week and the project is expected to take around a year.
Lord added: “We have operated Centric as serviced offices for a number of years and with the pandemic affecting occupancy, the opportunity arose to look to extend our residential expertise into Liverpool to reinvigorate Centric.
“Our residential track record in Manchester speaks for itself with our commitment to deliver contemporary and desirable places to live, with this same approach applied to our first residential venture in Liverpool.”
Enabl is advising on planning and acting as the quantity surveyor on CERT’s Centric scheme.
Centric will be operated by CERT’s in-house property management team when it completes in 2025.
Well in, lads. Ridiculous that you’ve had to go down this road, but there we are.
By Anonymous
This site should remain as office space, and upgrade to A grade, the building could be stripped back and ground floor activity added. This building is opposite to Moorfields station and should be part of a wider street masterplan for new offices over a new station entrance and on that awful surface carpark. Apartments could play a part but not as a cheap poor quality conversion.
By GetItBuilt!
Shame on the planning committee for giving them the run around. You are a disgrace to Liverpool. And well done to CERT for doing what is legal and right. This should hopefully improve Moorfields.
By Build it and they will come
The short-sighted LCC Planning Committee strikes again. Time and time again they are advised about realistic fallback options and choose to ignore then, despite being material planning considerations. Now nobody wins – CERT has to develop a less optimal scheme, and the city has to put up with an office to resi conversion instead of a properly planned development that would need to abide by planning conditions to ensure the quality and safety of occupiers.
By Anonymous
And there is no requirement for affordable housing under PD (this should have been picked up in the article) so all committee have done is reduce the number of new homes by not allowing the roof top extension to proceed. So short sighted, but nothing surprises me in Liverpool.
By Anonymous
Own goal by Liverpool
By Anonymous
The correct decision as this building has failed to attract any viable interest as office provision. This area should be a lively part of the City’s business sector but there’s little demand, meanwhile it does not help that street beggars and rough sleepers are highly visible in Moorfields, and there’s land been laying empty for years for which the Council seems to have no plan with the private sector either for residential or commercial.
By Anonymous
Liverpool’s planning committee treat the city like a small town, and that’s a disservice to small towns.
By Anonymous
I’ve some sympathy with CERT, but the new Labour Government really needs to look at removing the PDR free-for-all on office to resi conversions, given the really poor quality of much of what it has delivered and the ability to by-pass basic housing standards. The tiny units carved out of the modern block on the other side of Moorfields are really grim.
If the local economy in Liverpool can’t generate demand for modern and well-located office space, it’s really not a good sign, and seems to rule out any progress on speculative new-build at Pall Mall unless the public sector takes on the entire risk.
By Rotringer
LCC has a significant problem it continues to blight the city , dampens interest from investors and developers and does not serve us citizens of the city or future generations . How much longer is this outrageous faceless committee of “experts” going to be allowed to continue with this nonsense. Mr Robinson this is a huge priority . Professionalise the LCC planning committee
By Paul
We need to get 1000’s of Civil Service jobs here like our neighbours down the M62, and the government are even building the offices to put them in.
By Anonymous
Labour Party busy putting a “rocket under Liverpool” I see… how long did that promise last?
Cue more low end, poorly occupied accommodation in inappropriate locations, and absence of jobs.
By Jeff
All the chimney sweeps, wheel tappers and bottle washers of Liverpool should be given a life long holiday in ” Jaywick,.They could charge the Liverpool Council Taxpayes for all costs and personal spending money.
Investors are attempting to invest in the City of Liverpool and the Port of Liverpool.
Yet the idiotic Liverpool City Council attempt to thwart all the excellent plans to bring prosperity to all the Citizens of our Liverpool home.
Bah Humbug
By Anonymous
It’s worth pointing out that CERT created the most original office project in the city and perhaps even the country in the last few years – Duke & Parr, now occupied by Firesprite. They’re clearly a creative bunch so it would seem to follow they explored all options with this building before settling (being forced to settle?) for a PDR conversion. As to GetItBuilt! Who says that office to residential conversions have to be low quality? Given CERT’s track record in the city, I have faith. – Just checked who their architect is – Architectural Emporium, a Liverpool practice and RIBA award winners…
By Anonymous