Plan to convert city centre offices to housing thrown out

A plan to convert office space in Liverpool city centre into housing has been thrown out by councillors over concerns about a lack of affordable flats.

Cert Property had wanted to revamp the long-vacant Centric House, opposite Moorfields Merseyrail station, turning it into a 45-apartment complex. But the scheme was rejected a second time by Liverpool council's planning committee Cllr Joe Hanson said the lack of affordable housing in the proposal “flies in the face” of the city’s local plan.

Office space at Centric House had lain dormant for a number of years despite undergoing a major refurbishment after a multi-million pound acquisition. The building had been suggested as part of the answer to Liverpool’s ongoing housing issues.

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Earlier this month, the council’s planning committee considered a bid by Cert to repurpose the site into single level and duplex homes. A planning statement said the building only had a single tenant occupying around 50% of the ground floor lettable space.

Councillors indicated they were minded to reject the plan due to a lack of affordable options within the plans. It therefore went before the committee for a second time – once again recommended for approval – for a final decision.

Stephen Oster, on behalf of Cert, said the firm had never been able to get a “sustainable level of occupancy” in the building despite its best efforts. He said housing proposals would provide a “new chapter” for Centric House and make it an “asset to the area over the long term.”

The building, in the Castle Street Conservation Area, has a car park at basement level and a smaller car park at ground floor level within a courtyard. It was described as being of “poor architectural merit” and could be replaced by a “high quality residential scheme” in an “under utilised building in the city centre.”

Cert bought the 27,000 sq ft building six years ago to convert it into office space in a £3.3m deal after its former owner entered administration. The building last underwent a refurbishment in 2010, when it was owned by Barclays. The bank left the building, rename Centric House in 2011, to move to 20 Chapel Street and to Liverpool ONE.

The bank vacated the building when it moved to 20 Chapel Street and Lord Street on the edge of Liverpool ONE. It was renamed Centric House in 2011.

Having initially rejected the plans earlier this month based on concerns over affordable housing and developer contributions, councillors were not swayed further when Mr Oster confirmed properties would be listed between £150,000 to £300,000. Cllr Hanson said a lack of affordable housing went against the city’s local plan and said he would reject any bid to approve the scheme.

Despite being recommended for approval, councillors voted to throw out the proposal, which could be subject to an appeal by Cert.

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