A plan for hundreds of new flats represents an “exciting opportunity” for one of Liverpool's iconic buildings.
Proposals to transform Audley House - the home of TJ Hughes on London Road for almost a century - into almost 200 new properties was given the green light by Liverpool Council this morning. The famous building was created in phases between 1889 and 1913 and the discount department store has operated from it since 1927.
Having initially been the subject of a plan for 250 apartments, proposals for 199 were signed off by the local authority’s planning committee today. The plans come from Vision International Group Limited. The redesign will retain most of the building’s existing character, including its iconic tower.
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The revamped submission is a storey lower than initially requested to allow the existing façade details to become more prominent. A total of 129 one-bed apartments will be situated in the building as well as 70 two-bed apartments.
A gym will be located on the lower ground floor while a ground floor cafe and other facilities are to be installed. Representatives from Vision International Group told councillors how Liverpool’s retail core had shifted from London Road and the peak days of footfall around the area towards Liverpool ONE.
As a result, TJ Hughes wanted to “safeguard the future of the business and jobs” by relocating. It was said the plans to remodel Audley House into a residential facility had been developed over the last five years and were an “exciting opportunity” to bring the building back into active use.
The new apartments will be made available for rent in what was described as “an evolving part of the city in need of new investment.” Cllr Pat Moloney said Audley House was an “elegant building” and the change of use to a residential facility was “the best fit” for the site.
Despite this, the Liberal Democrat member put forward an amendment to the plans to refuse the application based on parking concerns. This was defeated having only secured three votes.
Cllr Tom Cardwell described the site as “a building that has a place in most of our hearts if we were dragged there shopping as kids.” Proposing the application be approved, committee chair, Cllr Tony Concepcion said: “We don’t want to see this building demolished, it’s an iconic building in the city and this application maintains that.”
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