Property briefs: Plans for Toxteth reservoir, Cinammon expansion, Venmore sale and more
LIVERPOOL architect Cass Associates has worked up a number of ideas for the High Park Street resevoir in Toxteth.
The Victorian building has a subterranean vault that held two million gallons of water which it pumped to thousands of homes until it closed in the 1990s.
Cass has been working with the lease holder, Dingle 2000 Development Trust to come up with new uses.
In the long-term it suggests: a commercial, community or event venue with an open courtyard; an all weather venue for craft and food markets; a glazed pyramid on the roof housing a bar and restaurant.
It has also put forward plans for a solar farm on the roof, along with bee hives and food growing.
Partner Richard Cass said: “We are delighted to be working on a project that would hopefully eventually see the transformation of a wonderful building that has such great historical and architectural importance for Liverpool. People were genuinely very interested in our ideas and our display within the main exhibition attracted a great deal of attention. The feedback we had was very positive.”
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THE owners of a Liverpool café have expanded their business after opening a second shop in the Port of Liverpool Building.
Baby Cinnamon complements sister-café Cinnamon, located in City Exchange Atrium on Old Hall Street, also owned by Downing.
Jackie McKeown, Cinnamon café owner, said: “Cinnamon café has been a success since we acquired it in 2009. When Downing approached us with the opportunity to open a smaller café in the Port of Liverpool building, we were flattered by the offer and jumped at the chance.
“Our customers tell us Baby Cinnamon is a welcome change as we offer fresh coffee and a wide-range of sandwiches, salads and cakes. And we are not just serving customers who work in the building – we are also attracting a high level of passing trade from people interested to see the inside of this magnificent building.”
John Clegg, head of property management for Downing, said: “Cinnamon’s expansion within the Downing portfolio is a real success story and one which we are delighted to have been able to help with. Cinnamon is a superbly run small business, and an ideal café to open in the Port of Liverpool building serving the high-quality goods our tenants expect.”
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LIVERPOOL auctioneer Venmore will be auctioning 62 lots at the firm’s last sale of the year this month.
The auction, which takes place on November 21 Liverpool Town Hall, is set to hold a mix of lots including residential, commercial and development opportunities.
Geoff Guest, auction and commercial director at Venmore’s Dale Street branch said: “After a successful year, we are expecting a packed out auction room for our last auction of 2012. We have a high number of quality lots featured all over Merseyside, with many of our buy-to-let properties already proving popular with pre auction activity.”
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THREADNEEDLE Property Investments, advised by Indigo Planning, has been granted planning consent for improvements to the Red Rose Retail Park in Salford.
The front extension of Unit 6 of the park will be demolished, and a 2,088 sq ft mezzanine level will be created to replace the lost floorspace.
The changes have made the remaining units more visible which was said to be a factor in Screwfix’s decision to sign up to take 4,800 sq ft Unit 5 on a 10-year lease.
Chris Smith, associate director at Indigo Planning, said: “Unit 6 is the most visible unit from Regent Road and this consent will allow Threadneedle to make necessary improvements and has already become a catalyst for securing new occupiers.”
