Go-ahead secured for revamp of Liverpool’s Coopers Building
Hot on the heels of a management agreement being signed this month with Spanish hotelier Libere Hospitality Group, upper floors of the Church Street building can now be converted to a 148-bed aparthotel.
Plans were submitted to Liverpool City Council in summer 2025 by Seth Hotel.
The project at the former department store was drawn up by NC Architecture, and will see floors three to seven turned into short- and medium-stay accommodation, with a rooftop space and restaurant added.
LHG said its vision for the site is to largely retain the building’s historic features, including its mosaic-tiled floors, glazed wall tiles, and coffered ceilings. The façade would be restored, a roof covering added, and some structure reinforcements put into place.
The project team also includes Fenix Heritage, Howard Wynne Consulting Engineers, Element Sustainability, PDA Acoustics and Redmore Environmental.
A decision notice has now been issued to Seth Hotel’s advisor, Broadgrove Planning & Development, dated 24 February.
In the officer report accompanying the decision, the case officer’s summary said: “Overall the proposal delivers the re-use of long-vacant upper floors in a highly accessible location, provides economic and employment benefits through a new hotel and public restaurant offer, safeguards the role of the primary retail frontage at ground level, and secures good design and accessibility.
“Subject to the stated conditions and legal agreement, the scheme accords with the Liverpool Local Plan and the NPPF.”
Although not widely known in the UK, LHG is well established in Europe. Founded in 2019, the firm has more than 2,300 units in its portfolio. In addition to Spain, it operates accommodation in Portugal, Italy, France, and Greece.
The firm’s business development director for UK & Ireland John Harrington described Liverpool as a “dynamic destination” on completing the management agreement earlier in February.
You can view the proposals by searching reference 25F/1951 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
