There are hopes the scheme could be a ‘flagship’ development for the TJ Morris-backed firm
13:36, 07 Jan 2025Updated 13:36, 07 Jan 2025
Major plans have been approved to redevelop buildings in Duke Street and create a development of nearly 90 apartments
A major new development comprising almost 90 apartments in Liverpool city centre backed by the city’s richest ever man has won the right to go ahead. Proposals lodged by Davos Property Developments have been signed off by Liverpool Council, allowing the company – a subsidiary of Home Bargains’ parent company TJ Morris – to convert four, three-storey, Grade II listed Georgian town houses on Duke Street into 88 new homes.
The agent on behalf of the applicant, Jack Farrell, told the city’s planning committee how the proposals would refurbish the historic buildings and “return them to their former splendour.” The site in question is bounded by Duke Street, Henry Street and Kent Street and is currently made up of boarded up properties with basements. The houses are some of the earliest merchants’ residences in the city, thought to have been built around 1780, which originally doubled as warehouses.
The buildings are currently boarded up and dilapidated. The site also includes a vacant plot at 126 Duke Street, which is currently used as a car park.
The developers wish to redevelop the entire site, including the partial demolition, repair and remodelling of the four listed buildings. Mr Farrell said the site had been vacant for a number of years, owing to fire damage which left the properties unsafe and no longer accessible.
The proposals were put forward by Dave Little of Davos Property Developments care of TJ Morris Ltd, the owners of Liverpool-based high street giant Home Bargains. TJ Morris’ billionaire owner Tom Morris, the richest Liverpudlian to have ever lived, is a director of Davos Property Developments along with Mr Little, and Mr Little is also group property director at TJ Morris.
The redevelopment, which Mr Farrell said would be a “flagship” project in Davos’ proposed slate of schemes across the city, will create 37 one-bed, 46 two-bed and five three-bed apartments. The planned commercial space would aim to offer a flexible unit with a combined area of 350 square metres at the ground floor of the Duke Street/Kent Street corner of the block.
An operator is yet to be confirmed for the retail unit, Mr Farrell said. Cllr William Shortall offered his take on the conundrum facing planners and the city, and said: “It’s a difficult choice between having something that’s a grade II listed building kept in a manner some people would like it to be, and progress.
“I do feel that it needs to be done, we can’t have a rotting building, it needs some functionality.” The plans weren’t universally popular however.
The Historic Buildings and Places organisation described the scheme as a ‘highly damaging proposal to the architectural and historic significance of these heritage assets.” Cllr Billy Lake also had his say on the designs.
He said: “I really can’t let this one go, it’s like all the others, we have another featureless, drab, brown box. The city is absolutely littered with them.”
Despite this, members voted in favour of the plans by a majority.