Commercial office tower proposed for Bigge St, Liverpool
Bold new plans to build a $106 million commercial office tower incorporating one of the city’s oldest heritage buildings are now before Liverpool Council.
Liverpool
Don't miss out on the headlines from Liverpool. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bold new plans to build a $106 million commercial office tower incorporating one of the city’s oldest heritage buildings are now before Liverpool Council.
Sydney developer Mackycorp has proposed to demolish existing structures at 277 Bigge St, opposite Liverpool railway station, to create a 23-storey commercial tower and refurbish the New Commercial Hotel.
The late Victorian-style building is listed as a heritage item under Liverpool Council’s Local Environmental Plan 2008 and will be conserved under the plans.
The proposed development would provide 24,000 sqm of office space and include a Spice Alley-style strip with retail, food and beverage offerings, as well as a tower lobby cafe.
Mackycorp managing director Michael Hercus said the project would address a predicted shortage of commercial office space in Liverpool.
He said the city’s “fundamentals bode well for a commercial centre”, pointing to its location between two international airports, its proximity to the M5 motorway and the presence of a large hospital with thousands of employees and two university campuses.
“We identified this as an opportunity to give the community a heritage building refurbished into a world class food and beverage establishment imbued with over a century of character,” he said.
“(It) is a sensible location for government agencies relocating out of the Sydney CBD closer to their workforce.”
The development application was lodged last month and is currently under preliminary assessment.
Diagrams included in the application show the tower would have a curved shape along its eastern facade.
Mr Hercus said the company was committed to providing high quality work spaces and amenities for residents, who “need not travel over an hour to work in a safe and vibrant workplace with quality amenity”.