Moorfields £6.5m office-to-resi complete

The refurbishment of No.2 Moorfields, a 63,000 sq ft former office building in Liverpool’s central business district, into 136 studio apartments has been completed by main contractor Construction Partnership UK.

Under designs drawn up by Falconer Chester Hall for the building’s owner, Miller Services, the project has seen the upper floors of the 30-year-old block on Dale Street converted into flats.

A ground floor office and blood donor suite has remained in occupation on the site.

Part of the outside of the building is made up of a grade-two listed façade, which was not affected by the project.

Steve Burke, CPUK Group managing director, said: “Due to our collaborative approach on a previous Miller Services development in Oldham, this project was negotiated.

“This 1970s building has a part listed façade and is located in the heart of Liverpool’s commercial centre and conservation area on Dale Street.

“Our work included the strip out of the existing office space on four floors and part demolition to the rear of the façade to allow new curtain walling. The existing office space was extensively refurbished to provide the fully fitted-out studio apartments.

“Some of the construction methods employed in this fast track programme included the use of offsite constructed bathroom pods and kitchens, which were craned in through the rear of the building.”

Office-to-residential conversions are increasingly popular in Liverpool even for buildings within the traditional commercial core. Last month Bruntwood got planning permission for the refurbishment of Orleans House in 70 flats, while Fortis Developments announced it planned to bring forward 193 apartments in Silkhouse Court in Tithebarn Street, due for completion in 2017.