The £16.5M investment programme at the iconic Grade II listed Watson Building in Liverpool has reached the ‘Topping Out’ stage, with all roof works now finalised as the project moves closer to its October completion date.
Earlier this year, CBRE and joint agent Worthington Owen were instructed by West Nile Developments Ltd (WND) to commence marketing the historic Watson Building, where the £16.5M investment programme is creating 74,153 sq ft of flexible office accommodation. The scheme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has received a £5.6m loan from Merseyside’s Chrysalis Fund created to support economic regeneration in Liverpool.
The Watson Building is in an excellent position, strategically located adjacent to the Knowledge Quarter of Liverpool with the University of Liverpool under 0.4 miles away and LJMU’s flagship £70m campus directly opposite, providing over 250,000 sq ft of educational facilities and landscaped parkland. In addition, Neptune, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, recently submitted plans for the re-development of Lime Street, to further assist in the transformation of this area.
Part of the wider Central Village development, the Watson Building sits directly above Central train station with Lime Street Station just a 3 minute walk away, giving it unrivalled transport links without compromising on doorstep amenity.
Neil Kirkham, Associate Director of Office Agency at CBRE, said;
“We are delighted to report completion of the roof works on the Watson Building as the multi-million investment programme continues to bring this iconic building back to life, creating office accommodation for over 700 jobs in the city’s most popular quarter. In our opinion, this scheme offers an unrivalled location for occupiers seeking a building with character, excellent amenity, public transport and opportunities to collaborate and improve synergies with the Knowledge Quarter of the city.”
Construction work on the Watson Building is due to complete in October 2015.