Liverpool approves Parr Street Studios scheme, Ropewalks hotel and more
PJ Percival Construction’s 70-apartment mixed-use development and three major hotel projects totalling 434 rooms were greenlit at the council’s 21 December meeting.
New layout for the Parr Street Studios scheme from PJ Percival Construction. Credit: planning documents
Parr Street Studios
- Developer: PJ Percival Construction
- Planner: Mosaic Town Planning
- Architect: Architecture JD
Liverpool City Council approved the application from PJ Percival Construction to demolish several buildings in the Ropewalks district to make way for a new development with 70 apartments, eight aparthotel rooms and 12,000 sq ft of commercial space.
The scheme, as approved, had been altered significantly from when it was first submitted to the council. The developer had reduced the scale of the scheme from seven storeys to between five and six. The number of apartments was cut from 114 to 70 and the number of hotel rooms was slashed from 36 to eight.
The nature of the apartments changed as well, with PJ Percival ditching its original studio concept to build 36 one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom units.
A car-free project, there is no parking included in the scheme. Instead it offers 104 secure cycle spaces for residents and 33 spaces for the retail units.
Councillors expressed their concerns over the loss of the historic Parr Street Studios, a Grammy-award winning studio where Elbow, Echo & The Bunnymen, Bjork, Blossoms, Drake and Coldplay had previously recorded.
However, a representative from the studio assured the council that it was supportive of the application and that staying in the current space was not feasible. The council is working to move the studio to Kempston Street.
Approval is conditional, based on a section 106 agreement.
According to the application, construction is set to begin next year on the first phase of the project, which includes the conversion of No.35-41 Parr Street as well as a two-storey roof extension.
The second and third phases would begin in 2023 and include the six-storey building at No. 33 Parr Street and a seven-storey building at No. 43-45 Parr Street.
A final phase would start in 2024 with another six-storey building being built at No. 47-55 Parr Street.
Members of the project team include MDA Wirral on flood risk strategy, Liath Heritage and Design as heritage consultant and DTPC as transport consultant.
A spokesperson for the applicant said: “We are delighted with the outcome of today’s planning committee and look forward to bringing one of the city’s hidden gems back to life as part of a new and exciting mixed-use development, paying homage to the buildings previous use and creating new and exciting spaces for residents, visitors and artists, along with contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Liverpool’s hip Ropewalks Quarter.”
Tim Groom designed the hotel. Credit: planning documents
Ropewalks hotel
- Developer: Duke Street Hotel
- Planner: The Planning Studio
- Architect: Tim Groom Architects
Despite concerns over the aesthetics of the building (with Cllr Pat Moloney noting that the city deserved more exciting designs), the 189-bedroom aparthotel was signed off by the council. Also set in the Ropewalks district of Liverpool, the project aims to build three linked structures to have the hotel rooms as well as a lounge, gym, coworking facility, dining area, laundrette and a store.
The developer is Duke Street Hotel, a vehicle linked to Liverpool developer Iliad Group, which is behind the nearby Elysian Fields.
Plans for the conversion were originally approved in 2019. Credit: via planning documents
St Johns House hotel
- Developer: Promenade Estates
- Architect: Falconer Chester Hall
Plans for a 43-bedroom boutique hotel returned to the committee after having been originally granted in 2019. The return was due to changes in the national framework in the time between when the original decision was made and when the section 106 agreement was signed.
The application was unanimously approved at the council meeting.
The now-approved plans grant Promenade Estates permission to change its Sir Alfred Waterhouse-designed building converted into a hotel.
Hann Tucker Associates was the acoustic consultant on the project. Curtins was the transport consultant. Gary Miller was the heritage consultant.
The hotel is part of a wider phased development. Credit: via planning documents
Former site of Liver Grease Oil & Chemical Company
- Developer: Crossfield Exclusive Developments – a joint venture made up of Crossfield Developments and Exclusive Investments
- Planner: Savills
- Architect: Brock Carmichael
Like the St Johns House hotel scheme, this application was initially approved in 2019. Frameworks have since changed and so has the scheme, shrinking by one storey. The amended plans call for a nine-storey hotel with an 11-space car park, gym and 202 hotel bedrooms. It would also have 20 cycle storage spaces and a restaurant with a bar on the top floor.
The application was unanimously approved by the council.
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Good outcomes all round then , and a sign that the council is more welcoming to applications now, however not sure why the Parr Street scheme was subjected to height reductions, ie from 8 storeys to 6.
The hotel in the Baltic will add to the variety down there, now need to see more office/work space in medium-rise buildings.
By Anonymous
While it’s great LCC are getting their acts together in the planning and redevelopment departments, these height restrictions on every construction plan is annoying. It’s old school thinking again. They need to take that height restriction clause out, now we’ve gotten rid of UNESCO. Liverpool is a world class city, not a town in the outback. Let’s get building tall buildings, skyscrapers. The world has moved on, let’s move on with it.
By David