DEVELOPER Lawrence Kenwright is in the news for the second time this week with the announcement that he is set to create a Bill Shankly-themed hotel.
The venue: Millennium House, the office block at the end of Victoria Street, birthplace of the Liverpool Echo, soon to be vacated by Liverpool City Council staff.
They will move to the Cunard Building, not to be confused with the White Star Building which Mr Kenwright is currently converting into a Titanic-themed hotel.
The Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve plans, next Friday, for the city council to dispose of Millennium House to Signature Living Hotel Ltd in a refurbishment costing £15 million.
If given the go-ahead, Signature Living Hotel Ltd will submit a planning application to convert Millennium House into a 250-capacity Bill Shankly-themed Aparthotel.
A Shankly museum, within the hotel, will feature a range of never-before-seen items, it says, which tell the story of the Liverpool FC manager, and which have been held for many years by his family.
The city’s Lifestyles Gym, which operates from the building, will be expanded and leased back by the council which will continue to operate it as part of the on-going leisure provision in the city.
The council says the development will also include 17,500 sq ft of upgraded office space – which will house Signature Living’s head office, as well as providing space for local start-up companies, as part of a young, creative professional hub.
It says the scheme will reate over 60 jobs during the construction period, and a further 100 jobs once the conversion is complete and the building fully occupied.
Lawrence Kenwright, who made headlines this week when he revealed a bid to turn St Luke's bombed out church into a wedding hotel, is director at Signature Living Hotel Ltd.
He said: “Whatever one’s football allegiance, Bill Shankly remains a legend of the sport. He brought the glory days back to Liverpool FC, and we intend to do the same at this landmark city centre building.
“We will transform it into an iconic hotel and museum in his name. We will also use part of the building to support local start-ups and new university graduates, with what will be a creative hub for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.
Mayor Joe with the key of the
door to the Cunard Building“If approved, these plans will provide a huge boost to Liverpool’s regeneration and will be yet another good news story for the city.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The relocation of our staff to the Cunard building will generate millions in savings and income for the city council. But it’s really important, once our staff leave Millennium House, that the long-term vibrancy of the building - and importantly, Victoria Street - is protected. I believe this project will deliver that.
“Liverpool’s sporting heritage is celebrated throughout the world, but we do not have a major football attraction in the city centre. These proposals would change that, providing a permanent tribute to one of our most famous footballing heroes, filling a gap within our tourism market, and attracting visitors from across the globe.
“This really is a unique project, and something people would not be able to experience anywhere else in the world. A hotel celebrating the life, times and achievements of Bill Shankly would complement the raft of cultural attractions on the nearby William Brown Street, and further boost our tourism offer in this part of the city.
If granted Cabinet approval, Signature Living intends to submit a planning application for the whole project in April. Construction would begin in early 2015 with the scheme due to complete by March 2016.
The gym expansion would be carried out first, and completed by summer of this year. The existing gym will continue to run while the work takes place.
