Fresh hotel plans in for former Liverpool John Lewis
Landlab Developments wants to convert the 153,000 sq ft George Henry Lee Building into a 175-room hotel operating under Accor’s Mama Shelter brand.
The developer, headed up by sole director Victor Alfa, has submitted a planning application to Liverpool City Council for the redevelopment of the former John Lewis store at 20-48 Basnett Street.
Curious is leading on design and Roman Sumner Associates is advising Landlab on planning. To learn more, search for application number 23F/1800 on the city council’s planning portal.
Located off Williamson Square, the nine-storey building has been vacant for several years. The only tenant is Poundland, which occupies 14,000 sq ft across the ground floor and basement.
In 2019, a proposal from Niboco to redevelop the building into a 157-bedroom hotel was approved by Liverpool City Council. However, that consent has since lapsed.
The George Henry Lee Building was built in the mid-1800s and started out as a bonnet store before being sold to the John Lewis Partnership in 1940.
John Lewis ceased trading from the Basnett Street store in 2008 and relocated to a 260,000 sq ft complex within Grosvenor’s Liverpool One.
HilcoGlobal was appointed as receiver to sell the 250-year leasehold of the former department store last year.
While L&G owns the freehold of the property, the leasehold was held by Rapid Property Investments from 2008, according to HM Land Registry.
Really hope this happens as that area and ex GH. Lee buildings need some serious investment.
The next challenge is the soon to be vacant M&S store, with the traditional front section ideally suited as a hotel.
By Anonymous
Anonymous: you’re quite right. It was built as a hotel, after all.
By Sceptical
The big Flannels investment nearby seems to have been a catalyst for much needed interest in this part of the city centre
By Anonymous
There are two parts to the uppers – the front above TK Maxx and the rear above Poundland. This is the rear. The front is also vacant and the future is sadly at large!
By Geek
Liverpool City Council needs to be more proactive in its city centre management instead of just waiting for things to happen. Are they engaging with developers and the retail sector to create attractive shopping and leisure areas.
We have lots of shops that might trade here with right environment, like Uniqlo, Muji, Leon,Itsu,Anthropologie. Lush has done well in Church St and Flannels looks really good.
By Anonymous