A Wirral landmark which was threatened with demolition has been revived, with 35 apartments sold at the waterfront building.
Andrew Gibson House, on Seabank Road in Wallasey, was at risk of being knocked down after remaining empty for nearly two decades.
However, the Edwardian mansion built in 1906 for the widows of retired seafarers, has now been restored after a campaign by residents, councillors and conservation groups, including Save Britain’s Heritage.
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The restoration was led by Prospect Capital, working alongside the former owners and seafarers charity, Nautilus Welfare, and Wirral Council.
Andrew Gibson House is now part of the wider Gibson Park development, which will include a new apartment building, allowing more homes to be built on adjacent land which used to belong to Wirral Council.
Craig Blackwell, managing director of Prospect Capital, said: “It’s been a difficult task putting together an overall project that saves this important piece of local heritage, provides Nautilus with the accommodation they need for the future, and that is commercially viable and deliverable.
“Thankfully there has been a great deal of goodwill from all sides and it is fantastic that we are now moving to completion on the first and most important phase of the project.
“Andrew Gibson House is an outstanding and attractive building and I am not surprised that we have already sold every apartment and could have sold them twice over.”
Mr Blackwell paid tribute to the role played by Wirral Council in securing the future of Andrew Gibson House.
He added: “Without the energy and impetus from Janette [Williamson, leader of Wirral Council] and her colleagues, this building would now have been demolished.
“It’s only through their practical support through the planning process, and providing scope for the enabling new development, that we have been able to make this project work.”
Cllr Williamson, the Labour leader of the local authority, said: “It’s great to see work progressing so quickly with the project and we look forward to seeing completion of the restoration before the end of the year.
“It demonstrates what can be achieved when parties are willing to work together, and find imaginative solutions to difficult challenges."
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