£8m Princes Building scheme to start at Dale Street
BOUTIQUE Liverpool developer Goodman Wells has announced that work is about to start on the £8m refurbishment of one of Dale Street’s historic commercial buildings.
The conservation and heritage specialist has approval to turn Princes Building into 35 high end apartments with space for sympathetic independent businesses at ground floor.
The building until recently used by Liverpool’s musicians and was where Miles Kane and The Zutons rehearsed. The rehearsal facility has since been relocated to another building in Dale Street.
Goodman Wells managing director Paul Burgess said: “This is a labour of love for us and we want to ensure that we deliver a development that respects the building’s specific character and has an overall identity and integrity.
“It’s therefore important that any retail and leisure element is complementary and helps define a building with its own personality and sense of place.”
Goodman Wells is looking for independent creative entrepreneurs to operate an original restaurant or coffee shop and is offering investment to support operators with strong and unique business ideas.
Work on site follows the relocation of a popular rehearsal space for local musicians. The team have worked closely with building users to find suitable alternative location within the Dale Street area.
The conversion of Princes Building has already proven an outstanding commercial success with all the apartments sold off-plan.
Goodman Wells will now be submitting planning for the second phase of the scheme which will see the refurbishment of the adjacent Cheapside Warehouse to create 6 loft-style duplex apartments of exceptional size and quality.
Paul Burgess added: “There is a great deal of residential development being delivered in the city centre at the moment, but we’re looking to deliver something that’s distinctive and desirable.”
The project’s success is no surprise to local agent’s Century 21 who believes that investors and buyers are becoming more discerning about what and where to buy.
Selling agent Claire Birchall said: “This has been a really enjoyable and rewarding project to market. It’s a great product in a really outstanding and beautiful building. It’s a piece of Liverpool heritage that is being lovingly and expertly restored.”
The project is the latest in a series of design-led projects by Goodman Wells which have involved the refurbishment of heritage and historic buildings including schemes in Liverpool’s Sefton Park and Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square.
