GALLERY | Kinrise unveils Martins Bank Building vision

Upon completion in 2024, the historic Water Street building will house 140,000 sq ft of grade A offices, under proposals lodged with Liverpool City Council. 

Kinrise has released the first images of what the Martins Bank Building, which has been vacant for more than a decade, will look like once it has been redeveloped. 

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As well as offices, the project will also feature community-focused spaces within the former banking hall. 

The central hall is to be transformed into “a culturally engaging, multifaceted space, featuring a cafe and restaurant as well as meeting, co-working and event areas”, the developer said. 

Working with architects Red Deer and Brock Carmichael, planning consultant Arup and pre-construction advisor Lendlease, Kinrise plans to retain and restore the building’s original features and create a fully carbon-neutral building.  

Red Deer and Brock Carmichael are leading on design. Credit: via Ebury Comms

“We want to play a long-term role in the renewal of Liverpool and hope our renovation of Martins will act as a catalyst for change within the district,” said Sam Lawson Johnston, co-founder of Kinrise. 

“In a time where Liverpool’s heritage status has come under international scrutiny, we hope Martins will kick-start landlords of other important buildings to begin high quality renovations of their own, avoiding further demolitions in the city.” 

Kinrise bought the Martins Bank Building from a subsidiary of Starwood Capital last year for around £16m. The previous owner twice had plans approved to convert the property into a 215-bedroom hotel but work never started on site.  

Designed by Herbert James Rowse, the bank building opened in 1932 and has been vacant for more than a decade. 

To view the plans for the building, use application reference numbers 22F/1712 and 22l/1793 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.

Click any image to launch gallery 

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