Liverpool Fruit Exchange to get long-awaited reset
The city council planning committee met today to rubber-stamp an 81-bed hotel conversion and an over-55’s residential scheme in Norris Green.
The Fruit Exchange
JSM Company Group’s application was granted approval to carry out internal and external alterations to the Fruit Exchange building.
The grade-two listed building, situated between Victoria Street and Mathew Street, previously received conversion approval in April 2020, but the pandemic caused the application to expire.
In a slight alteration to the previous application, there will now be a bar instead of several rooms on the first floor, which can also be accessed externally from Mathew Street.
The 41,300 sq ft hotel will also include a newly built restaurant.
The scheme is a “sensitive conversion” of the building, with the council’s heritage officer expressing her comfort in the plans during the meeting.
To improve accessibility, the addition of a track hoist in at least one hotel room was required before the application was approved.
The Fruit Exchange was originally built in 1888 as a railway goods depot, before converting to the ‘sweet-smelling’ market of its namesake in 1923.
Its convenient location in the middle of Liverpool City Centre is key for its transition to a hotel.
All new elements have been designed by Wroot Design, and Townscape is the heritage consultant.
To view the plans, search for application reference number 23F/1013 on Liverpool City Council’s website.
Stockmoor Road
An application from Cobalt Housing to develop a one acre vacant corner of Norris Green has also been accepted.
The housing association’s 50-home project will sit on the corner of East Lancashire Road and Stockmoor Road and operate as an over-55’s scheme, combining accommodation with care support services.
The 54,200 sq ft apartment complex will be split into 35 two-bed and 15 one-bed flats.
Flats will be spread across three floors, with the applicant confirming 100% of the properties will be affordable.
Emphasis has been placed on a design that will cater to residents as they age and require greater accessibility – a dementia suite is also included in the plans.
There will be 18 car parking spaces to accommodate those who live in the apartments.
The land has been left undeveloped since 2008 when a 1960s tower was demolished.
BTP Architects, Nova Acoustics, Hunt & Associates, Redmore Environmental, MEC Consulting, and Sutcliffe are on the project team.
The application reference number 23F/1461 can be used to find the project on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
