Revised plans for a luxury hotel in Liverpool recommended for approval

31 March 2020

Revised plans for a luxury hotel on an historic site in Liverpool city centre have been recommended for approval.

The grade II-listed Fruit Exchange was built in 1888 as a railway goods depot for the London & North Western Railway to serve the Exchange Station on Tithebarn Street. It was later converted in 1923 by J.B. Hutchins, serving as an auction house for fruit and produce.

It became grade II-listed in 2008.

The main features of the building are still the two exchange halls which lie in the centre of the J-shaped plan. A large rotunda window in the centre of the ceiling above the tiered seating also remains.

Proposed by JSM Group was a 92-bedroom hotel which would provide "luxury accommodation" for residents. However, this has been revised to 85 rooms. A bar and restaurant are also included as part of the plans.

A report to Liverpool City Council's planning committee – which will make a decision later today (31 March) – said: "The hotel proposal will facilitate the viable re-use of valued heritage assets and enable the efficient regeneration of a long-term vacant site, and in doing so create a vibrant and inviting local environment.

"Subject to appropriate management and mitigation it will contribute towards a complimentary mix of uses in this area."

19F/2260
Fruit Exchange Building Victoria Street Liverpool L2 6RE
To carry out internal and external alterations in connection with the conversion of the existing vacant building into an 85 bedroom hotel, with associated restaurant and bar.