1st Look at Plans for Martins Bank Building

RESPONSIBLE property investor Kinrise has unveiled its vision for the iconic former Martins Bank headquarters in Liverpool. Formal plans, designed in consultation with Historic England and Liverpool City Council, have recently been submitted and enabling works are now underway as new images of the building's future interiors are unveiled.

Upon completion in 2024, the historic Grade II* listed building will house community focused spaces, F&B and 140,000 sq.ft. of sustainable Grade A offices. Alongside beautifully designed workspaces unlike anything else in the City, Kinrise plans to create welcoming, publicly accessible spaces within the spectacular former banking hall on the ground floor of the building. Often described as the most ornate in the country thanks to its extravagant display of travertine and bronze, the central hall is now set to become a culturally engaging, multifaceted space, featuring a cafe and restaurant as well as meeting, co-working and event areas.

Working with architects Red Deer and Brock Carmichael, and pre-construction advisor Lendlease, Kinrise plans to retain and restore the building's original features, maximising the abundance of natural light that flows into the building, whilst employing its signature ESG-centric refurbishment principals to remodel Martins as a fully carbon neutral building.

As part of Kinrise's vision to return the space to public access and create an engaging hub for the City, a Community Manager has already been appointed to oversee the implementation of cultural events. Employed across all of its buildings, the Kinrise cultural, health, and impact programme is designed to inspire tenants to connect and grow through events, food, art, music and community engagement.

Kinrise has already kick-started this programme, utilising the vacant space within the building to host community initiatives ahead of the commencement of main refurbishment works in early 2023. Most recently, Kinrise partnered with Paul Askew's Art School restaurant, Liverpool BID, Bordeaux Wine Council and Liverpool Commonwealth Association to host:- 'Taste Liverpool, drink Bordeaux' in the building. The food and drink festival brought together the City's best chefs and restaurateurs, with Martins welcoming over 1,500 members of the public during the course of the four-day event.

Sam Lawson Johnston, Co-Founder, Kinrise, comments;- "We want to play a long term role in the renewal of Liverpool and hope our renovation of Martins will act as a catalyst for change within the district. In a time where Liverpool's heritage status has come under international scrutiny, we hope Martins will kick start landlords of other important buildings to begin high quality renovations of their own, avoiding further demolitions in the City, with their associated environmental damage, and keeping the great character and history of Liverpool alive. We are excited to see our plans for the building come to fruition and we hope its renovation and the return of public access will leave a meaningful legacy for the City for future generations."

Kinrise is a responsible property investor focused on reimagining and restoring iconic buildings and bringing them back to life. Translated as:- 'community rising,' Kinrise's vision is to play its part in the renewal of UK cities by creating spaces that inspire and enable connection, culture, and company growth. Each of its buildings is designed to host freelancers in need of a desk for the day through to global companies needing a home for a decade. The 207,000 sq.ft. Martins Bank Building joins Kinrise's existing portfolio of 10 buildings across Leeds, Manchester, London and Birmingham. 
 

Bill Esterson MP celebrates success in bid for rebuild funds for "crumbling" Lydiate Primary School

BILL Esterson MP has praised campaigners, staff and Council leaders after a long campaign for a rebuild of a:- "crumbling" Primary School was successful. Mr Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, said Lydiate Primary School's need for refurbishment was an issue he had raised:- "more than almost any other" in Parliamentary questions and letters to Ministers over the last 5 years.

Education Secretary James Cleverly confirmed in a letter to Mr Esterson on Tuesday, 12 July 2022 that the School, located on Lambshear Lane, had been chosen as 1 of 61 that would benefit from the School Rebuilding Programme, in addition to 100 that had already been announced since February 2021.

Mr Esterson said:- "Some very good news for Lydiate Primary School. Confirmation from ministers that Lydiate Primary School is to receive funding under the School Rebuilding Programme. The slight caveat as always is that the letter to me from the minister speaks of replacing or refurbishing 1 or more buildings. But as the School is in desperate need of a complete rebuild, and that was the basis for the bid, I am optimistic that this is what the Government will fund. Also, the Education Secretary has acknowledged in his letter to me that the Schools that have been chosen in this round have some of the poorest condition buildings and that this should be addressed as soon as possible. Big congratulations to the head teacher, Mrs Forshaw, her staff, the governors and to all the children, parents and carers at Lydiate Primary School, who have worked so hard to make this happen. It is great news for them and it is great news for the staff and children who will come to the School in the future. It is wonderful that they will benefit from these new facilities. And a massive thank you to Sefton Council for the quality of the bid, which faced stiff competition. The Government has finally agreed with everyone else that this School is a top priority. I've asked more questions about Lydiate Primary School and written more letter to ministers about the School than about almost anything else in the last 5 years, so I am delighted at the news. I will of course be pressing the minister for confirmation that it is the full rebuild the School needs. For now, let's celebrate this fantastic news!"