Developer chosen to revamp key city site
A LANDMARK 12-storey office building for the run-down James Street area of Liverpool city centre has moved a step closer - after a preferred developer was selected for the scheme.
Liverpool Vision and the North West Development Agency (NWDA) have chosen Langtree to lead the redevelopment of the site, currently occupied by Kingston House, on the corner of James Street and The Strand.
Langtree beat off competition from three other shortlisted companies - UK Land and Property, FT Patten (Holdings) in partnership with Eric Wright Group and HBG Properties.
Kingston House is a 1960s office building owned by the NWDA. The brief for the quarter-acre site offered the opportunity to create a landmark high-quality office building of between 10 and 12 storeys with active retail or leisure uses at street level.
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The prominent location means that a high-quality building was a significant factor in selection of the preferred scheme and development partner.
Liverpool Vision chief executive Jim Gill said: "Liverpool city centre is growing rapidly and major development opportunities of this nature are increasingly scarce.
"We were very impressed by the obvious commitment of all the shortlisted developers and the quality of the proposals presented to us.
"Langtree demonstrated real imagination and a strong commercial approach in their proposal. Their track record in delivering positive change in urban areas was also an important consideration in our final recommendation."
The proposals to build 85,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 15,000sq ft of retail/leisure space will now go through a detailed development and design process prior to being submitted for planning permission to the city council in the autumn.
Martin Lloyd, NWDA head of property, said: "The agency now looks forward to seeing detailed proposals that will maximise the potential of the site, and working together with both Liverpool Vision and Langtree for the delivery of this important project."
John Downes, managing director of Langtree, added: "We have very much enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that we have faced in the development of similar projects, such as Forty Sprin-gardens in Manchester city centre, and we are confident in our team's ability to ensure that Kingston House will be delivered to the highest standard."
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