YPG eyes July start for £50m Islington apartments

Developer and contractor YPG is expecting to start a two-year construction programme on its £50m Gildart Street apartments in Liverpool in July 2018.

The project includes three towers ranging between seven and 10 storeys in height at a 1.4-acre site at 33 Gildart Street in Islington. In total, these will provide 449 one and two-bed apartments.

The largest block houses 236 apartments and a 7,400 sq ft ground floor retail unit, and overall, the development will provide 12,000 sq ft of ground floor commercial space, as well as a gym.

Each of the buildings, now re-named Fab One, Fab Two, and Fab Three, has a rooftop garden. One block will also include 25 apartments specifically designed with enhanced accessibility for less mobile people.

Plans were approved for the project earlier this month, with the developer paying a Section 106 agreement of £1.3m, including a £900,000 contribution to public realm improvements in the city.

YPG is acting as developer, architect, and main contractor on the project. Construction is due to complete in July 2020.

The company’s managing director Ming Yeung said: “Islington has been an unremarkable part of the city for decades now but, as part of the expanded Knowledge Quarter, is undergoing a fabulous renaissance.

“This will be a high-quality development providing affordable accommodation for professionals and key workers. I’m also really pleased that we have been able to include some apartments specifically designed for people with mobility challenges as the city centre currently has a very poor supply of such accommodation.”

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson added: “This development will make a huge difference to the impression people get when they drive into the city centre and we’re delighted to be working with YPG to bring forward such a transformational scheme.”