Littlewoods Building | Edge Lane | Mixed Use

[Babaloo]

I know that this will sound petty but I often wonder how well the people employed by LCC in whatever capacity actually know the city and when I don't think along those lines I wonder how it is possible to display the kind of incompetence demonstrated above. Isn't anyone talking to anyone else? Is policy made without consultation? Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of south Liverpool should know that St Hilda's is an all girls school and that's its raison d'etre. It doesn't want to share a site with a boys' school! St Margaret's is as established on Aigburth Road as its possible to get. Presumably the LEA is aware that a new (vile looking) extension was built not that long ago?

I know I am banging on about this to the point of distraction but that's because I think it's symptomatic of the kind of incompetence that bedevils our local council. Whether it's Bradley announcing that Jason Harborow should be suspended or someone else announcing that three schools are going to set up shop in the former Littlewood's building (without clearly having done his/her homework) it just isn't good enough. I'll leave aside the sudden change of use for this building.

All councils make mistakes and most are disliked to a greater or lesser extent but as various reports have indicated there is something about LCC that prevents healthy functioning (and I see this debacle as a symptom of that) and until that is sorted out I fear that things will only get worse.

[Chris B]

I wonder why they can't leave the Littlewoods Building as it is? Empty buildings are never good, but in some instances where the building is of particular note and merit, shoving something into it that doesn't really belong just to fill it, because the current market won't support anything else seems rather short-sighted. That said, I'm not against the idea of locating a school on Edge Lane as such (although I still think traffic management will need some serious consideration). I wonder though, seen as both St. Margarets and St. Hilda's have issues with the plan, why they can't just move Archbishop Blanch? Let them move, perhaps into a new building adjacent to the Littlewoods Building, and leave the Littlewoods Building itself until as such time as it can be put to use because a given proposal for it stacks up, not just because there's nothing else that would work at the given time.

[Babaloo]

I agree, it's not as though there isn't plenty of land to choose from in that area.

It's the lack of co-ordination, the lack of proper evaluation and the short-sighted expediency that I find exasperating. I keep on trying to convince myself that we have moved away from all that and now I'll just have to start all over again.

It would be interesting to find out who came up with this proposal first. Because of the complete absence of awareness of what is happening on the ground in the city I suspect that this baby might be entirely NWDA's with its bitch LCC falling in line, as always.

[Bachy Soletanche]

Have I posted these pics?

[Babaloo]

I can't say that I have seen those particular photos before so thanks for posting them.

What a gorgeous building - EH lost whatever credibility it had left (none whatsoever, come to think of it) when they refused to list this building.

[skgogosfan]

Has anything new come up for this yet? Since Bachy posted those pix,a lot of the plaster has fallen off the west face of the tower making it look rather shabby.

Dave.

[Nathan4]

I think it's one of the buildings that could be getting sold by the NWDA as instructed by the government isn't it?

[Chris B]

From the Daily Post -

Liverpool Innovation Park schools plan may be revived to create business neighbourhood

A DOOMED plan to base pupils in the heart of Liverpool’s Innovation Park could be revived as part of a Government bid to create “business neighbourhoods”.

Liverpool Council wanted to move two Church of England secondary schools – Sefton Park’s St Hilda’s and city-centre based Archbishop Blanch – into the iconic Littlewoods building at Edge Lane’s Innovation Park in a £45m scheme.

But the project bit the dust in July last year when Government axed the Building Schools For The Future scheme, which would have seen 26 city schools transformed.

When the Innovation Park schools scheme was launched by the council, it was championed as a way to boost the regeneration of the area and dovetail the schools’ technology and enterprise specialisms. Now plans to mix business and education on the site could be restored as part of a new Government initiative to establish “Business Neighbourhood Frontrunners”.

Article continues here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...2534-28728919/

[openlyJane]

^The use of the Littlewoods building by the two schools is, by far, the best idea that has been proposed for this building, in my opinion.

It would provide fantastic accommodation for two schools in need of a new school building, and it would also bring more life and activity to the new Edge Lane corridor. Plus, I am sure that the school buildings could be available for community activity outside of term time.

[Keayman]

I hope these are saved or better still can be incorporated into any WWII history tours.

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html


.

[Streetlife1]

Did anyone just see the North west news? this looks to have been saved.

[Gareth]

Yes. A hotel and, I think, apartments. I really hope it happens. It's a huge yet fine example of art deco architecture, plus, it's about time the area around Wavertree Technology Park started resembling an actual neighbourhood rather than an inustrial estate.

[Howie_P]

Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods building saved by £16m regeneration deal
by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo | Dec 6 2012 |


How the restored Littlewoods building on Edge Lane will look

LIVERPOOL’S landmark Littlewoods building was today saved from demolition by to a £16m regeneration deal.

The iconic art deco site in Edge Lane was rescued by the Homes and Communities Agency and a private company.

They intend to turn sections of it into commercial and leisure space and potentially a hotel.

For months they faced a race against time to ensure the future of the former Littlewoods Pools headquarters.

Because of the sheer scale and state of disrepair, the likelihood of a private company buying the site and going it alone to restore it was slim.

But the HCA – formerly English Partnerships – and developer Capital & Centric were involved in talks to take advantage of a “tax incentive mechanism” which would make the deal viable, although their window of opportunity was due to close in March 2013.

But with just three months to go, a deal was agreed and a planning application is now being drawn up.

HCA director Neil Pickering said: “We have taken our time to discuss this with Capital & Centric and for several months have carefully looked at their plans.

“The scheme is quite sensible in that it is about adapting and refurbishing rather than an enormous plan to redevelop internal areas and just safeguard the facade.

“It is a very practical and cost-effective approach.”

Several previous proposals – including one to demolish a big section of the property and build apartments on the site – failed to get off the ground.

The site is not listed by English Heritage and therefore not protected.

Continues >>

[buggedboy]

Interesting news. I'll not hold my breath though. Stanley Dock got £25m RGF funding over a year ago as it was ready for immediete delivery. Despite mutterings that work has begun here and there, I've seen no confirmation of it.

This could be a long time coming.

[Howie_P]

Second time lucky? ShedKM tries again at Littlewoods Pools
13 December, 2012 | By Richard Waite


ShedKM's latest scheme for the Littlewoods Pools building in Liverpool


ShedKM's latest scheme for the Littlewoods Pools building in Liverpool - December 2012


ShedKM's original residential and commercial scheme for the Littlewoods Pools building in Liverpool - developed for Urban Splash in 2007


Liverpool's Littlewoods Pools Building - abandoned for more than a decade

ShedKM has been given a second chance to revive Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods Pool building at Edge Lane - this time for developer Capital & Centric

The Liverpool-based practice, which recently set up an office in Regent Street, had previously drawn up plans for Urban Splash in the mid-Noughties to convert the 1938 Art Deco landmark into a ‘digital village’ featuring 250 apartments, a 100-bedroom hotel, offices, shops, leisure space and a creche.

Those proposals collapsed as the credit crunch hit and a subsequent attempt to turn it into a school campus were also shelved when Education Minister Michael Gove binned the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Speculation mounted in the Spring that the building’s leasehold owner, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), was considering flattening the unlisted building - provoking SAVE Britain’s Heritage president Marcus Binney to accuse national regeneration agencies of ‘indifference to the building’s clear architectural and historic resonance’.

However, the landmark now looks to have been saved after it was announced Capital & Centric Plc is to buy the building and has submitted a planning application to Liverpool City Council to convert it into a hotel with commercial space.

The new proposal, also drawn up by ShedKM, would see £16 million of private sector money invested in the refurbishment project which could start on site next summer (2013).

Neil Pickering, head of area at the HCA said: ‘The Littlewoods building is a key priority for the HCA. Capital & Centric Plc’s proposal to save this iconic building and transform it to its former glory is great news for Liverpool.

‘The developer’s vision for this huge art-deco complex complements HCA’s and council’s wider plans to develop a number of strategic sites along Edge Lane, bringing vacant land and empty buildings back into use. This will play a key role in revitalising the area; creating real opportunities for growth. This is a very complex and challenging building and there’s still work to do but we’re looking forward to seeing the final project proposals over the coming weeks.’

Source: Architects' Journal

[Howie_P]

1000 jobs to be created by Littlewoods re-development plan | Bay TV Liverpool

http://baytvliverpool.com/vod/index....V50c9db135b6d2

[MR KITE]

Shedkm submit planning for Liverpool's Littlewoods


The Art Deco icon has been saved from demolition by a £16m investment

Shedkm Architects has submitted a planning application to convert Liverpool’s Littlewoods building into a hotel with commercial space.

The design has been backed by Save Britain’s Heritage after Manchester based developers Capital & Centric stepped in at the eleventh hour and announced their intentions to buy the building.

Built in 1938, the Littlewoods building is an Art Deco landmark that dominates the city’s eastern approach with its tall central clock tower and concrete profile. It was initially built for Littlewood’s football pools, but was later taken over by the National Lottery.

The building has since lain derelict for over a decade. English Heritage refused an application to list the structure and two redevelopment schemes fell through due to the recession.

The new proposal would see £16 million of private sector money invested in the refurbishment project, which would start on site next summer. The project is thought to have won financial support from the mayoral City Deal fund.

Save deputy director Rhiannon Wicks said: “It is wonderful news that the Littlewoods building, a great Art Deco palace and a Liverpool icon, is to be saved and revived for a new use. As well as being architecturally impressive, the building has a place in the hearts of the people of Liverpool for being the home of the football pools. This rescue story goes to show what can be done when imagination is applied by enlightened developers.”

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/shedk...047925.article

[Paul D]

Seriously great news.

[this_city]

this is wonderful news...can't go wrong with a good bit of art deco the second image in the post by Howie P is stunning... EH are criminals for not listing this building!

[Paul D]

And the irony is they stand in the way of Liverpool waters on heritage grounds, there's no agenda though honest.