Liverpool approves resi conversion for long-vacant James Street office
District & Urban Developments has been granted permission to convert empty workspace within Crown House into apartments 21 years after the last tenants left.
Liverpool City Council has approved the application, submitted in August, under delegated powers.
District and Urban’s project features a ground floor retail unit, 16 apartments, some in a three-storey rooftop extension.
Crown House has been vacant for more than two decades and two previous change of use applications have been approved but never enacted.
The most recent iteration of the project would deliver a one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments, of which four would be classed as affordable.
According to the planning statement submitted by Avison Young, there has been a lack of interest in Crown House during the many years it has been marketed as office space.
While Liverpool has approved planning permission for District and Urban’s scheme, another city centre office-to-resi conversion was rejected by the city council’s planning committee last year.
CERT’s plans to repurpose Centric House are now being delivered under permitted development rights.
Along with Avison Young, Craig Foster Architects, Curtins, Mason Owen, and AEC are on the project team for District and Urban’s proposal.
To view the plans search for application reference number 24F/2011 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
Too good a building to remain empty for 20 years so this is a sensible outcome.
Hard to believe though that this office space right next to Merseyrail underground station cannot attract tenants but that is where are right now.
We desperately need high-quality, high-profile office space to attract companies to work from Liverpool, and Pall Mall would be a start.
By Anonymous
Totally agree with the above comment, being right next door to a Merseyrail station, this should have been upgraded to A grade office space for multiple tenants. Its an absolute disgrace that the owners and LCC have done nothing in the past 21 years with this building. For a city of its size, why isn’t Liverpool doing anything about office space?
By GetItBuilt!
This property will shortly be brought to the market for sale by Mason Owen. Should you wish to make an enquiry please contact the office.
By Andrew scott
@Andrew Scott, so this proposal isn’t going ahead then, if the property is for sale how can someone develop it, or is this just outline permission.
By Anonymous
No problem with a conversion scheme on any building of this type and condition. The onus of course is on LCC and their friends in the Combined Authority to progress more new Grade A in the central business district within walking distance of four train stations.
By Anonymous