Wirral developer buys Everton tower blocks

WIRRAL-based developer Middle England Developments has started work on the transformation of a a pair of tower blocks in Everton.

The firm completed a deal to buy Candia Tower and Crete Tower – a pair of apartment blocks that until recently were being used as student accommodation – last week and has already moved contractors on site.

Work had already begun on the redevelopment of Candia Tower by another developer, but it had fallen into administration.

Middle England Developments has paid £1.8m to administrators Deloitte for the properties and intends to invest £3.4m in a complete overhaul to create 128 three-bedroom apartments within the blocks.

The firm has retained Liverpool-based architecture practice KDP and Warrington-based structural engineers Steve Hunt Partnership on the scheme, which is close to Liverpool City Centre and on the edge of developer St Modwen’s proposed £150m Project Jennifer scheme.

The apartments will be sold on to investors and will be managed by Middle England Developments’ sister firm, Penlake, It will market them to young professionals, medical workers and students.

In recent months, Middle England Developments has bought the former St Andrews Church on Rodney St and the Hatton Garden Fire Station and is progressing plans to convert both into student accommodation.

Managing director Nigel Russell told TheBusinessDesk.com that his firm has specialised in student schemes to date, but when it was offered this site “four minutes from Liverpool city centre” the opportunity proved too tempting to turn down.

He added that work on the first of the two towers to be redeveloped, Candia, could be complete by the end of January.