A historic clock tower across from the former TJ Hughes building in Liverpool city centre is to go up for sale.
A city council report to go before its cabinet next week has confirmed it will look to dispose of the building at 104-106 London Road, previously home to a Natwest bank branch before it closed. The document said Liverpool Council is seeking to take the building to market with a 125 year lease for prospective tenants.
The building was constructed in 1899 for the Liverpool Furnishing Company by W. Hesketh & Co. It has previously been the subject of attempts to renovate the site for the purpose of use as a multi-purpose centre for social enterprises and charities based in the city.
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In order to be able to meet its capital receipts target for the next financial year, the historic building has been earmarked for sale by Liverpool Council. The city owns the Victorian end terrace three storey property, plus basement.
The report outlined how the iconic Clock Tower building was historically and most recently utilised as a high street bank with the ground floor comprising a typical banking hall with ancillary office, amenity and welfare accommodation. The upper floors provide a series of smaller offices with further amenity/welfare facilities.
The basement extends to a series of storage rooms. Since the tenants vacated the property, it has been left to deteriorate, due to lack of funding.
The document said the building requires immediate attention from the proposed purchaser to put the building back into substantial repair. Should the cabinet agree to the former bank going up for sale, it has been deemed suitable for residential usage but this would be subject to planning committee approval.
The building has been subject to numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour in recent years, according to the local authority, which said it has been costly to manage and rectify. If the buildings remain empty, the capital value will continue to decrease.
When it meets next Friday, the council’s executive group is recommended to give Mark Bourgeois, interim corporate director of city development, delegated authority to dispose of the property by way of expressions of interest, at the earliest opportunity. The report said: “It will be taken into consideration when expressions are put forward with regards to the usage of the property and how this will affect the local community.”
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