Latest attempt to restore historic office approved

A landmark building in Liverpool city centre which has seen numerous false dawns is set to become a hotel in a £12m scheme by Ashall Property.

Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of the Royal Insurance Building on the corner of North John Street and Dale Street into a 116-bed hotel above restaurant and bar.

The scheme was designed by Liverpool architects Falconer Chester Hall. The building is Grade 2* listed. Original features such as the expansive ground floor general office and ornamental ceilings will be retained.

The property has been disused since the 1980s and on the national 'buildings at risk' register.

Roger Williams, director of Preston Brook-based investment and development company Ashall Property, commented: "To bring back to life this iconic Liverpool building will require careful and well co-ordinated construction works. FCH have designed a scheme fitting of the building's history and we are delighted to be the developer of this superb building which will provide a top quality niche hotel and meeting destination for the city."

Adam Hall, Managing Director of Falconer Chester Hall, said: "This is a project which we were extremely pleased to be asked to work on.

"We were aware of the building and its history, and we knew that any proposals needed to satisfy the demands of its location within a conservation area.

"Our aim has always been to produce a scheme that restores the building's status as a property of which the city can be rightly proud."

Work on the conversion is expected to start in December 2012 with completion around December 2013.