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Liverpool Mayor cuts ribbon on hotel construction

Construction has started on an £18m Liverpool project to convert the city’s historic Royal Insurance building to an hotel.

The council-backed scheme will last 15 months and is being delivered by Runcorn-based Ashall Property, who will create around 150 construction jobs through the build, while over 50 full time jobs are expected once the building opens as a hotel.

Mayor Joe Anderson visited the build on Monday, when work on the Grade II listed building began.

The building has been empty for the past 20 years, and had been placed on the National Buildings at Risk Register.

Liverpool City Council purchased the freehold of the landmark for £1.95m earlier in 2013, which enabled £18m of private investment to go ahead.

Mayor Anderson commented: “At a time of inertia in the economy, we are taking the bull by the horns and doing things differently. This deal with Ashall is another great example of how we are targeting our resources creatively to help kick-start development, and investing in assets that bring in new income streams for the Council.

“The Royal Insurance building has been empty for too long, and its rebirth is great news for our city, for our economy and for our hotel sector. We are protecting our past, as well as investing in our future.”

He was joined by Mark Ashall, director at Ashall, and Colin Bennett, area manager UK & Ireland, Starwood Hotels & Resorts on his visit to the building this week.

Mr Ashall commented: “Ashall Property is both excited and proud to kick-start the regeneration of such an iconic building which will provide Liverpool with a vibrant, design-led hotel complete with restaurant and meeting space.”

Mr Bennett added: “We are very excited to debut our first Starwood hotel in Liverpool and look forward to working with all our partners to breathe new life into the iconic Royal Insurance Building.

“Following the success of Aloft London, we see great opportunities to grow our Aloft portfolio across the UK where there is a strong demand for affordable yet stylish, cutting-edge hotel brands.”

Construction MD at Balfour Beatty, Jon Adams, commented: “Balfour Beatty is delighted to be involved in the transformation of one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings and look forward to delivering a project that will exceed the expectations of our customer and future guests using the hotel.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .