A Liverpool PlayStation game development firm is to take over one of the city’s most historic buildings following a multi-million pound revamp.
Firesprite, acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment two years ago, is to move into the grade II listed Duke Street building following a £5m upgrade made possible from two Liverpool City Region Combined Authority investment funds. The property, which housed Liverpool’s first public library, will now be occupied by the firm that helped create one of the launch games for Sony’s PlayStation 4 console in 2013.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority contributed just over £5m to the refurbishment of this historic building, with £2.96m from its Urban Development Fund and £2.1m from its Chrysalis Fund. This funding unlocked the project at a time when commercial funding was not available.
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A refinancing agreement is now in place which has enabled those loans to be repaid into the two funds, making them available to support further city region projects. The letting deal is the largest office transaction in Liverpool for three years and offers the potential for new creative jobs in the region.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Devolution has given us the opportunity to drive transformational regeneration projects right across the city region – breathing new life into buildings and places that have existed in our communities for decades, but, for different reasons might not have been used to their full potential. We’ve injected huge investments into property, regeneration and sustainability projects through our £35m Chrysalis Fund, which has generated more than £100m worth of development activity – creating and sustaining hundreds of jobs.
“Hopefully, the £5m we’ve awarded to this development will create a first-class space in the city to grow and develop – and continue to supercharge our area’s credentials as a leading tech cluster.” Cllr Janette Williamson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector, said: “This is a great example of how investment from the Combined Authority can unlock projects that help drive growth and regeneration. It is fantastic to see this historic old building given a new lease of life at the heart of our thriving digital and creative sector.”
Situated in the Ropewalks area of Liverpool, the Duke & Parr building, formerly the Bibby Line headquarters, has been transformed into a progressive workspace. Revamped by CERT Property, the firm removed the superficial 1990s additions of previous occupiers, showcasing historical 1800s features.
These include an original staircase reinstated between the basement and atrium that was previously covered; restoration of original listed columns; removal of suspended ceilings to expose original features, even original wallpapers; repair of the boardroom’s wooden ceiling; original safes in the basement revealed and original fireplaces restored. CERT also stripped back and stained the parquet flooring in reception, and restored terrazzo flooring in the basement and building entrances creating an interior which complements the building’s grandeur.
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