A new hotel with close to 200 rooms will be built in central Liverpool in what will be another significant development in the Ropewalks area.
Situated on Duke Street and backing onto Parr Street at the Edge of Wolstenholme Square, the new development will consist of three separate buildings and house 189 hotel rooms, a gym, co-working space and commercial space.
The hotel will be built on top of a surface car park and former LMA Building land which covers 77-83, 85-89 Duke Street and 4-8 Parr Street.
READ MORE: Plans approved to demolish and redevelop site of historic Parr Street Studios
The former LMA building was constructed in the 1950s and adjoins the grade II listed Union News Room.
However the LMA buildings are not listed and will be demolished to make way for the new hotel.
The hotel would be of varying heights of six and seven stories while the commercial space within the building could be used for restaurant, small scale retail store, medical use or offices.
The scheme was passed by Liverpool City Council 's planning committee by five votes to three, however the chamber heard a number of concerns from councillors and one local business.
Speaking at today’s planning committee, Colin Williams, agent for developers Illiad who’ve carried out other schemes within the area, said outstanding issues over the scale of the building had now been addressed and will be reduced to a maximum of seven stories.
He added that the scheme “respects and reflects” the Duke Street conservation area where the hotel will be situated and would be of “significant economic and regeneration benefit.”
However, it was noted that Clockworks, a business situated next to the development on Wolstenholme Square, objected to the plans citing its scale and mass and potential effect on its own operation.
A council planning officer noted that the hotel would not be the first multi storey building in the area with much of the surrounding buildings in Wolstenholme Square standing over seven storeys following recent developments.
The design of the hotel was called into question by committee member Cllr Billy Lake who said it resembled a “large grey block”.
He added: “Is this how we want our city to look? What is it giving back in terms of culture and design?”
One of the project’s architects, Danielle McParland from Tim Groom Architects, responded outlining that the plans include a high quality brick selection, high quality imitation stone which responds to some of the detail in the area and deep brick reveals which add to the subtle nature of the design.
The views of Cllr Lake were shared by Cllr Pat Moloney who said: “Whilst I accept the quality of materials is high in this proposal and I note the comment about it being subtle, but I would say it is uninspiring - unless maybe it’s inspired by Lego.
“The city needs more exciting design that will grab people’s attention and be an asset to the city. Not just a bland box that brings boredom.”
A council officer outlined that a hotel by nature is going to have a more uniform appearance.
Before the plans were approved, committee chair Cllr Tony Concepcion said that a hotel in this area was “acceptable” and “in line with our plans” and noted how the scheme would “help repair an unattractive gap site.”
