Planning granted for Liverpool waterfront super-apartments
Conditional planning permission has been granted for a two-storey rooftop extension to Strand Plaza, the luxury apartment development on Liverpool waterfront.
Councillors on the planning committee voted unanimously to extend the total number of apartments from 123 to 135 with the additional eight apartments housed in a two-storey rooftop extension, and a further upper ground floor extension on Moor Street providing an additional three apartments.
The existing concrete parapet will be replaced with a ninth storey, increasing the building’s height by 1.8 metres. This will consist of six apartments, each with two bedrooms.
A further lightweight storey will be constructed to form the tenth floor, which will house two luxury penthouses, dubbed “super-apartments”, each with outdoor terraces, and a square footage of 2,153 and 2,203 respectively. One of the penthouses has already been bought for £1.25m.
The top level will be set back from the current edges of the building to avoid overlooking or overshadowing nearby properties, affording privacy to both residents and neighbours. It was decided in the planning meeting that this “would not have a significantly greater impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage site, the Castle Street Conservation Area, or the grade II-isted Albion House”.
With an estimated gross development value of £28m, Strand Plaza will be comprised of luxury studios alongside one and two-bedroom apartments, and will encompass views of the famous Three Graces: the Liver Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building.
Primesite Developments, the Liverpool-based company behind Strand Plaza, expect building to be completed in summer 2018. The development is one of the most sought-after in the city with half of the apartments already sold ahead of completion.
Bobbie Johnson, sales director at Primesite said: “This latest planning decision is great news not only for Strand Plaza itself, but also for Liverpool waterfront. The UNESCO site is iconic, yet the eyesore building has stood empty for years – we’re proud to be transforming it into some of the highest quality apartments in Liverpool.
“It is particularly challenging to develop sites of enormous significance, but when done sensitively and considerately, it becomes an asset to the surroundings.”
He added: “We believe that Liverpool is entering the next phase of luxury homes for the area, spurred on by the progression of these first super-apartments in the city.
“Just as important however are the first-time buyers with equally high standards and expectations.”
