Overbury takes on India overhaul
Overbury has taken over the fit-out of the 350,000 sq ft India Buildings in Liverpool from Caddick Construction, the third contractor to work on the project this year.
The grade two-listed city centre block is set to become a regional super-centre for HMRC, which is relocating staff from Graeme House, Raglan House and Imperial Court in Liverpool, and The Triad in Bootle.
Legal & General is the owner of the building, having acquired the site in 2017 for £125m from Shelborn.
The refurbishment project has already seen a series of complications and delays, after the discovery of nearly 400 tonnes of asbestos and additional works which required specialist planning permission.
Styles & Wood was delivering a £38m fit-out contract, which was terminated in September, with Caddick Construction appointed to take over.
At the time Styles & Wood said a “dispute has arisen” and the company was seeking legal advice, describing the termination of the contract as “wrongful”.
When Caddick took over, a fresh construction timetable was announced, with completion scheduled for summer 2020.
Regarding the switch in contractors, a statement from Caddick said: “Due to delays experienced prior to Caddick Construction being involved in the scheme, the original intent to have a contract for refurbishment/Cat A fit out and a separate contract for Cat B has now changed. The contracts will now be combined and undertaken by Overbury.
“Caddick Construction is currently working with the new developer Legal & General to facilitate and assist in the transition of Overbury taking over the project.”
A spokesperson from Overbury said: “We are working in partnership with Legal & General and HMRC to deliver their new regional centre at India Buildings in Liverpool.
“We are currently reviewing the works to confirm time-frames for the completion of the whole project. Caddick is also working with us in the early stages to help achieve these goals.”
India Buildings is Grade II* , not Grade II, this makes a big difference, you can’t alter the historic interior as it’s as important as the exterior.
By Liverpolitan
Don’t think that’s quite right. Orleans House is Grade II* listed too. And look (and weep) at what they did to the insides of that.
By Mike
You have to retain all of the internal features of heritage value. I guess it depends on how well that is enforced, but those are the planning regulations. India Buildings is particularly important internally as Rowse was lavish with his internal designs.
By Liverpolitan
Either way this project has been a disaster, an embarrassment for Legal and General and those involved. How do you suddenly find 400t on asbestos if you’ve undertaken the required surveys and assessments.
By John P
This project is a total fiasco. The disruption locally has been immense, scaffolding obscuring all the ground floor traders, road closures, suspended parking spaces, dust, noise.
LL
By Liver lad
Maybe the developers looked at the huge number of buildings in the city being converted to mini-flats, few if any of which, apparently, have managed to find asbestos that needed dealing with…
By Mike