LJMU tower in line for resi conversion
The vacant former university building on Norton Street is to be redeveloped into 54 apartments by Everbright Developments, under plans lodged with Liverpool City Council.
Everbright has returned for a second run at securing planning approval after an earlier proposal for a similar scheme was rejected by the council, a decision that was upheld at appeal.
The plans would see the 30,000 sq ft vacant Liverpool John Moores University building at 24 Norton Street converted into flats.
The developer has sought to overcome the building’s constraints, namely floor to ceiling heights, that would impact the quality of the apartments by extending the building upwards by two storeys. Balconies have also been introduced, along with a shared roof terrace.
In addition, the current façade system will be replaced with a green GRC cladding and terracotta lintels. The “underwhelming” entrance to the building will also be reworked.
The 11-storey scheme would feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments as well as 12 commercial units.
Smith Young is advising Everbright on the scheme. To learn more, search for reference number 24F/2446 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
This will be a good use for this familiar building, which I think was once a bank and offices. The more residents we can get into the London Rd/Fabric District the better as this will provide footfall for shops and other businesses.
The City Council say they want to boost the economy and appearance of this area so surely they can’t refuse this, and in the meantime can we have some clear news as to when the lower end of London Rd will be sorted.
By Anonymous
Has been empty a long time, but a bit of a shame if it’s going to disappear under cladding and extra floors plonked on top as it’s quite a cool building – if it was in Manchester, or a better location, it’s the kind of thing Bruntwood would do something clever with while keeping the elevations and perhaps putting back the original front entrance with escalators up to the former banking hall which LJMU stripped out for some reason.
Is the much vaunted “Fabric District” just going to be hideous student blocks and tiny flats carved out of existing buildings then?
By London Toad
Shame it cant be levelled and this and the adjacent block be developed together to create two cohesive buildings which suits the location better.
By GetItBuilt!
knock it down put a big tower there
By Anonymous
The building was originally offices for the former Midland Bank.
By Geoff Walker