McAleer & Rushe picked for 420-bed Liverpool student scheme
Fusion Group has appointed the contractor to lead the redevelopment of the former Hondo supermarket on Upper Duke Street into a seven-storey PBSA development.
McAleer & Rushe will build the 420-bed scheme, which was designed by Corstorphine + Wright Architects and is being funded as part of a £500m deal between Menora Mivtachim and Cain International.
Work on the building, whose amenities include a recording studio, half basketball court, fitness studio, library, and zero waste shop, is due to complete by June 2025.
Peter Devlin, contracts director at McAleer & Rushe, said: “With our extensive experience delivering PBSA schemes across the UK and Ireland, we are well placed to deliver a scheme for Fusion Group that will help to revitalise the Upper Duke Street area of Liverpool and provide young people with a high-quality student living experience.
“As construction partner and building on our successful early engagement approach, we are making use of offsite manufacturing to deliver benefits throughout the construction process delivering the scheme efficiently and sustainably.”
McAleer & Rushe has completed several major construction projects in Liverpool and is currently on site at Park Lane, overlooking the Royal Albert Docks, delivering a new-build Maldron hotel.
The company’s latest Liverpool scheme is Fusion’s first Liverpool. Elsewhere in the North West, Fusion is also delivering a 28-storey scheme in Manchester, which is being built by Domis Construction.
Paul Miles, construction director of developer Fusion Group, added: “We believe that every aspect of student living should be carefully considered and designed to create positive living spaces and inspire those who are living there.
“Our construction partner McAleer & Rushe brings expert knowledge and experience in delivering quality student accommodation in the PBSA sector and their approach to the project will provide modern and comfortable living accommodation with unparalleled social facilities and exemplary communal amenities.”
Looks like a decent filler scheme, so lets hope it doesn’t get value engineered and its built quickly so another grot spot is sorted out. Liverpool needs to pick up the pace and get more projects in the ground so the city centre and surrounding areas no longer have vacant plots or empty buildings.
By GetItBuilt!
Good to see this on site at last, but what was a decent original design until the Liverpool Height Police interfered and lowered it from 9 down to 7 storeys and it resembles another one of their favoured stumps. To be an architect on a Liverpool scheme must be totally frustrating, you submit your project only to have a cabal of untrained,politically-motivated councillors poor scorn over your professional skills and produce what looks like an off the shelf item.
Hopefully this won’t deter Fusion, who are a good developer, and they would be the ideal people to work on the Chinatown scheme.
By Anonymous
Shocked! Of no architectural merit what so ever. Why do Liverpool City Council continue to pass such awful planning applications; on the doorstep of the Georgian Quarter and over the road from the Anglican Cathedral. I’m ashamed ! I see in Manchester the same developer is constructing a 28 storey student tower. We’ll done Manchester Council, creating a city to be bigger and better ! This is the worst development I’ve seen in years and in this city things can only go from bad to worse. Shameful !
By Stephen Davis
Whilst there are very valid comments on the constant chopping of proposals, this site is right next to the Anglican cathedral. I wouldn’t want a 28 story tower plopped right there. Design isn’t bad it’s just generic and safe. I’d like to have seen something more fitting of the surrounding Georgian architecture.
By L17
7 storeys, cute!
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
Another development that has height reduced. We will never be a Tier 1 UK city with this small time council.
By Robert
I agree Liverpool needs more tall buildings , but in the right places. This site near the cathedral and the Georgian quarter is the place . Building need to fit into the area and not distract from the cathedral. So yes let’s have high buildings and higher than is being allowed by planners but in this case the proposed building is a good option
By George
To be fair , a taller building wouldn’t be right here. This is a bit nondescript but so is most mid level modern architecture sadly. They just don’t teach good design any more.
By Anonymous
Sorry, it’s another bland, soulless design, devoid of any visual style and – just as important – virtually no environmental consideration. It looks to me like it’s been simply plonked onto the pavement from a great height. Who on earth approves these projects? Where is the payback to the environment for our future generations through attractive landscaping, greening, or some other form of planet-climate consideration? If trees can’t be included, for whatever reason, why can’t smart planters be part of the design? We are so far behind other cities and countries in this respect. Another opportunity missed.
By Dezine