Plans have been put forward for the future of an iconic Merseyside building.
It was revealed last year that the Grand Casino in Southport would be transformed into a hotel by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group.
The company has now announced it plans to transform the Grade II listed building into a 48-storey landmark that will be one of the tallest buildings in the north of England.
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The tower, named the Tower of Hope, will stand 178 metres tall, housing 140 apartments from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms, a restaurant, 109 five star hotel rooms, a wedding venue, a bar and a car park.
The company have also said that they are keen on promoting health and wellbeing and will provide a community health and wellbeing centre, a gym and spa, as well as a patch of green space for exercise and community activities.
Andrew Mikhail, chairman of Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group, said: “I understand if we all get this off the ground it will be the single biggest project that will have come to Southport since anyone can remember. New York City started with a single brick once upon a time as did London and every major city and town, we need to cherish our past and we should be building our own future so other generations can bask in our glory rather than keep talking and referring to our past continuously. A great philosopher once said, 'The secret of change is to focus all your energy on not fighting the old but on building the new'.
“In the early part of 2021 I, like many others, contracted COVID 19, causing me to spend over 4 months in intensive care, not expecting to survive. I was one of the lucky ones who did survive, thanks to the hope & faith of those closest to me including my family, friends and the incredible nurses and doctors. Their support was relentless, refusing to give up on me.
"Hope and sheer determination got me through and has given me a second chance at life, for which I am sincerely grateful. The Tower of Hope will be built as a symbol for every single member of the NHS that helped the country stay on its feet and those that have tragically died and families that have sadly lost loved ones in this shocking pandemic where so many people and businesses have been at the point in life where the only thing left for them is hope and prayers.”
Andrew, whose group also owns The Bold Hotel, Punch Tarmey's and the Lord Street Hotel in the surrounding area, confirmed that all profits from the sale of the apartments will go to charity.
He said: "I want this to be a true sign that we shouldn’t give up and that better things will come, I hope that people will look up, see the Tower of Hope and realise, that anything is possible. Sometimes taking a few steps back will actually move you ahead much further and faster. It allows you to reassess, clear your mind, and catch your breath for the big plans about to unfold for you. The plans for this landmark building incorporating The Grand Casino will connect the past, present and future of Southport together. My aim is to build phase one and the hotel then any profits proceeding from the sales of apartments will ALL go to a charity or charities of the local people’s choice."
The company will work closely with Sefton Council going forward as they look to bolster the already popular "Northern Quarter" of Lord Street which has become a hub of popular bars and restaurants.
He continued: “I’m proud to continue to invest in Southport, having already invested millions into our current developments in Southport’s Northern Quarter I can’t thank Sefton Council enough, for all their help in achieving the first two phases of this investment which has given me the confidence to carry on and we are looking forward to sitting down with all the relevant parties at Sefton Council and getting this final and largest phase over the line.
"The recent Town Deal funding announcement has been a great boost for Southport and on the back of those funds, hopefully, more investments will flood into Southport like the one we are proposing now. The council anticipates over £400m of private sector investment following their Town Deal schemes and The Tower of Hope will be a major contributor to this, further stimulating the local economy. These are very exciting times for Southport town centre again.”
Plans and further details about the project will be available to view at an event at The Bold Hotel on a date to be announced soon.
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