Merseytravel to sell Hatton Garden HQ

MERSEYTRAVEL has appointed commercial property agent CB Richard Ellis to sell its existing Liverpool headquarters ahead of its move to Mann Island in 2011.

The listed building, on Hatton Garden in the city centre, has 50,000 sq ft of office space but could be adapted for student accommodation, a hotel or residential units, according to CBRE.

Nick Rice, managing director of CBRE in Liverpool, said: “Merseytravel’s move to Mann Island will bring its staff from four sites across the city to one location for the first time so it’s a hugely exciting time for the company. Their existing site on Hatton Garden has a great deal of history, hence its listed status, but has become impractical as a long-term location for the business because it isn’t big enough to accommodate all their employees.

“Having worked with Merseytravel on the acquisition of its new site at Mann Island we are very pleased to be appointed to dispose of the Hatton Garden site. Its great location and flexibility of use means the building is likely attract a lot of interest and we are confident of securing a deal before the end of the year.”

CBRE has also been instructed to sub-let 30,000 sq ft of space at Merseytravel’s  new 140,000 sq ft headquarters at Mann Island.