Planners to consider resi scheme for historic block

PLANS to convert an historic listed building in Liverpool city centre are set for approval this week.

Windermere-based JCC Building Services, run by Paul and Susan Young, have applied to convert the empty Chancery House into apartments.

The Flemish gothic-style building sits on the edge of Liverpool One in Paradise Street.

It was built in 1899 to provide accommodation and other assistance to seafarers who had fallen on hard times.

JCC wants to add a six-storey building in the car park and a two-storey roof-top extension to create 37 apartments and two retail units.

Extending into the car park will cause the loss of seven London Plane trees which were protected in 2011 due to the lack of trees in the city centre.

The developer has said the scheme would not be viable without the extension and the council’s head of planning has accepted that the loss, “whilst regrettable, is outweighed by the need to bring an important listed building back into a suitable and viable use”.