Cunard refurb plans submitted

CBRE has submitted a planning application on behalf of Liverpool City Council for a 25,000 sq ft refurbishment of the fifth floor of the Cunard Building overlooking the River Mersey.

In March, Liverpool City Council completed a deal with Merseyside Pension Fund in September 2013 to buy a long lease on the 285,000 sq ft Cunard Building for around £10m. The acquisition was part of a cost-saving plan that involves relocating hundreds of council staff to the waterfront site and disposing of its interest in Millennium House, and the 10th floor of The Capital building on Old Hall Street, currently home to Liverpool Vision, which will move to Cunard. There is currently around 110,000 sq ft vacant at the building.

The 37,000 sq ft fifth floor is used as offices and currently has two tenants occupying 12,000 sq ft, with the rest of the floor vacant. The space had previously been altered to make room for five separate tenants. The current proposal will merge the three untenanted areas to create an office space for use by a single occupier.

The project will include restoring the original wood-panelled boardroom, with any missing historic features reinstated. According to the planning application, any "inappropriate finishes" such as modern partitions and suspended ceilings will be removed.

In the application, CBRE said: "With the majority of the floor now vacant the building owners wish to take the opportunity to refurbish it to a standard befitting a building of this quality."

In August the council said it would move the first staff into the Cunard Building by early October. The council had planned to locate a cruise liner terminal within the building, and was also in discussions with hotel operators and private sector companies to occupy the remaining space.

Liverpool City Council and CBRE were unavailable to comment.

Your Comments

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Same price for the Cunard Building psf as the Royal Mail shed announced today too – seems like the council is spending tax payer’s money well on this occasion!

By Observer

Yes but no boubt they will massively overspend on the refurb!

By Anonymous

I worked here for a few months back in 2007 – was surprised how lavish and regal the communal areas (stairs/bogs) still were.

I hope the working areas get the cash and attention they deserve to make this the high-quality office space it needs to be.

By gerry pacemaker

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