Gladstone House conversion approved  

The 17,600 sq ft office has been vacant since agency Mason Owen relocated to Chapel Street in 2019, and Liverpool City Council has now granted consent for the building to be redeveloped into flats. 

The three-storey Union Square building is to be repurposed to provide 22 apartments, under plans lodged by Gladstone House Developments, headed up by director Andy Grabe. 

Designed by Liverpool-based architect Falconer Chester Hall, the project will feature 14 one- and two-bedroom residential apartments and a further eight serviced apartments for short stays. 

The development also includes plans for a single-storey, rooftop extension, described as the “minimum necessary intervention to make the proposal viable”, by planning consultant Zerum. 

Improvements to the façade and windows, as well as the complete replacement of the stair core, also feature under Gladstone House Developments’ plans. 

“We know the building intimately and have conceived many a scheme from here with clients,” said Robert Brym, associate director at Falconer Chester Hall. 

“It’s a very dense and historic part of the city with listed buildings all around and it’s been an enjoyable challenge introducing a sensitive rooftop extension to this mix,” said Brym. 

Andy Grabe of Gladstone House Developments, said: “Gladstone House provides the ideal opportunity to live and stay in a historic building in Liverpool’s vibrant city centre, close to employment opportunities and excellent travel connections.  

“We are delighted that we have been able to work with the existing features of the building to provide individual apartments.” 

Progressive Service is the M&E consultant for the project and Sanan Consulting is the structural engineer.