The scheme stalled in 2021. Credit: via planning documents

PLANNING | George Henry Lee and YPG on Liverpool agenda

The latest proposals to convert the George Henry Lee building, housing on the former Kensington Market, an expansion of Liverpool Shopping Park and revised plans by YPG at Gildart Street are all going before committee next week.

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George Henry Lee building

George Henry Lee Basement Casino

A layout of the proposed basement-level casino

Developer: Niboco

Bedrooms: 157

Size: 153,000 sq ft

The plans for the hotel on Basnett Street are being brought forward by the Doherty family, the owners of the former Rapid Discount Store on the building’s ground floor, along with property investor Williamson Holding, the developer behind the conversion of the Gostin Building on Hanover Street. The proposals for the George Henry Lee building have been named as The Williamson in planning documents

The proposals are for a 157-bed hotel over nine floors, including a restaurant, bar, conference facilities, gym, spa, and a basement-level casino and nightclub. No external alterations, or changes to the building’s entrances, are proposed.

Plans were put forward to convert the upper floors into a hotel in 2014, but these were never progressed, and a fresh application by aparthotel operator Roomzzz followed in 2017. Again, this application never came to fruition.


Fabric Village, Gildart Street

YPG Fabric District Feb 2019

Developer, contractor & architect: YPG

Storeys: 10-7

Apartments: 419

YPG’s revised proposals are for a £50m scheme on Gildart Street which initially secured planning permission in 2017. Named Fabric Village, the initial proposals were for three blocks ranging between seven and 10 storeys, including 449 one and two-bed apartments.

The rejigged application features a reduced number of apartments at 419, and a revised layout to one of the 10 storey blocks and the seven-storey block. There will be six retail units across the site; three in the largest block, and three split across the other two.

The previous application was approved subject to a Section 106 agreement of £1.3m, including a £900,000 contribution to public realm improvements in the city.

Under the latest plans, the Section 106 agreement is significantly lower, featuring commuted sums of around £600,000, with much of this going towards public realm and landscaping.


Former Kensington Market, Prescot Road

MCI Kensington Market

Developer & planner: MCI Developments

Apartments: 54

Houses: 30

The developer’s plans are for the derelict 2.3-acre site to the south of Prescot Road, formerly home to the Kensington Market. MCI is proposing to demolish the remaining structures and replace them with two three-storey blocks featuring 54 flats, along with 30 homes. There will be 16 three-bed homes and 14-two beds.

The site has long been mooted for redevelopment with a plan for a food store and retail unit put forward in 2010, along with 44 homes and 15 apartments. These were never progressed and were then withdrawn in 2015; following this, plans for student accommodation were also approved, but were again withdrawn around two years ago.

The plans are recommended for approval subject to a Section 106 agreement featuring £84,000 towards open space, and £68,000 towards tree planting.


Liverpool Shopping Park, Edge Lane

Liverpool Shopping Park Phase Two

Developer: Derwent

Architect: AEW

Retail & leisure space: 145,000 sq ft

The developer is planning to add 18 retail and leisure units at the park on Edge Lane, replacing the site’s former Hollywood Bowl, which is due to move into a new leisure unit alongside a cinema. There will be 16 retail units along with two drive-thru restaurants, including a drive-thru coffee shop.

The first phase of the park opened in October last year and tenants include Next, M&S, Boots, B&Q, Wilko, M&S Food Hall, TK Maxx, and River Island.

Construction is set to start in the summer.

Your Comments

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Fabric Village looks sensational. Really nice images.

By Derek

Delighted that we (ATP) have been able to manage the planning process and see this move forward. Look forward to it being built.

By Mark Aylward- ATP

Drive thru this, drive thru that, drive thru obesity clinic, no need to leave the car………

By UnaPlanner

Can’t wait for the cinema and bowling alley, if it’s as good as the cinema in Speke I’ll be very pleased!

By Local

Nothing beats Woolton Cinema in my opinion. Lovely experience! Oldest surviving cinema in Liverpool. Lets hope Speke and Edge Lane don’t impact on it.

By Bob Dawson

Fabric Village, 3 3=5?

By Abots

The George Henry Lee building is special with its vast atrium and grand staircases. I hope they can keep as much of the character as possible. The interior of the Blackler’s building was lost nearly three decades ago when the store closed. This was even more iconic. The Basnet Street store was one of Liverpool’s early department stores, previously Bonne Marché, and was modelled on a sister store in Paris I believe.

By Roscoe

Let’s Hope the new Apartments and Houses built on the former Kensington Market will be the usual Shed/Warehouse Design with plastic Coated Panels or Zinc Instead of the longer Lasting and more Aesthetically Pleasing “Brick’…why Expect and Pay for Quality when it’s to house the Middle and Lower Classes?

By John

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