PLANNING | Hotels and apartments return to Liverpool committee
An expanded Signature Living hotel, and revised proposals for previously-approved flats and student accommodation are set to return to Liverpool City Council’s planning committee next week.
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Arthouse Hotel, 1 Arthouse Square
Developer: Signature Living
Scheme: Add two storey roof extension, and seven storey side extension to infill Arthouse Square, to double size of Arthouse Hotel to 71 bedrooms
Signature Living acquired the former Arthouse Square office in 2016, and converted it into a 35-room hotel in 2017. The application has been revised from an earlier scheme, and applies to use Arthouse Square as the site of a seven-storey extension, including ground floor uses such as retail and cafes.
The hotel developer argues that the square attracts anti-social behaviour and drug use, and doesn’t present a loss of valuable public space as the nearby St Peter’s Square fulfils the purpose better.
However, objectors to the scheme have said the proposal is too large for the area, and have expressed concerns about the hotel occupants, with one respondent fearing “the existing anti-social behaviour of hotel guests, including visible nudity, will be exacerbated”.
Renshaw Hall, Benson Street
Developer: NR Capricornus, part of Niveda Realty
Scheme: 12-storey 160-bedroom hotel, and 11-storey student accommodation, for more than 400 bedrooms
Architect: Falconer Chester Hall
The proposal for Oldham Place, Benson Street and Back Renshaw Street revises a previously-approved scheme, with permission granted in 2016 for three blocks of aparthotel and student accommodation on the site of a historic ice rink.
The proposal reduces the development to two blocks, and increases the planned number of student rooms.
Niveda is a real estate investor headquartered in Mayfair, controlled by two East African and South Asian families.
Hughes House, London Road
Scheme as approved in 2017 – sitting at seven storeys, the revised scheme is proposing an increase to 10 storeys
Developer: Town Square Developments
Architect: KDP
Flats: 245
Another revised scheme, which was approved in 2017 subject to a legal agreement, which was never signed. The proposal is to demolish Hughes House to build a part nine, part 10 storey building made up of 245 flats.
In the amended application, the project has increased in height from six and eight storeys, has increased apartments from 183 flats, and reduced the amount of commercial floorspace.
Objecting to the proposal, Cllr Nick Small argued the Hughes building should be retained due to its local importance, and the height doesn’t reflect surrounding buildings such as Audley House, the neighbouring TJ Hughes store.
Signature Living seem to be able to get anything through planning. How can they develop on a public square within Ropewalks?
By SL
Universally awful schemes from lazy developers and architects…a new low for Liverpool’s planning department…..As for loosing Arthouse square, half the antisocial behaviour and drug use is a result of the hotel being there in the first place….unbelievable the crap planning consultants push out for a few extra quid these days!
By Sadsac
It’s not a public square, that’s why. It’s a private piece of land.
By Abots
They cant even finish their dinner
By Mikes mate
The Arthouse Square proposal should be refused! This square was part of the adopted Ropewalks masterplan developed in the 90s which has seen the area go from strength to strength. Managed properly by Signature there need be no antisocial behaviour here! This square is important as the backdrop to FACT, our Arthouse cinema! and does make a contribution to the openness of this otherwise densely developed area.
By Roscoe
The flats on London Road look fine to me.
By Roscoe.
Mr. Kenwright could be our Mayor soon enough. Liverpool’s very own Donald Trump. Some of the stuff going up is absolute rubbish, but in fairness the planners hands are largely tied.
By John Smith
The London Rd scheme looks like a huge improvement on the current land use. The Artsquare Square proposal needs to be refused without question. It may be private land, but so is Chavasse Park. Signature Living need to stop destroying the attractiveness of Liverpool with their tacky, poorly finished bargain basement architecture.
By anon
So Nick Smalltown, speaks again, I thought he was still chained to a tree in Pall Mall or where ever he needs a vote?
By Town Hall Tommy
It will be a retrograde step for Arthouse Square to be developed. There are plenty of other sites in the area.
By Billy