Approval for Liverpool waterfront BtR towers

Planning approval has been granted for a major new residential development in central Liverpool, led by build-to-rent specialist Packaged Living in partnership with Affinius Capital. The scheme will deliver 434 private rented apartments across two towers of 19 and 25 storeys on the site of the former Littlewoods computer centre, at the junction of Old Hall Street and Leeds Street.

The development will offer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, supported by a range of resident amenities. These will include co-working spaces, lounges, a gym, and entertainment areas, many of which will be located on landscaped rooftop terraces with views across the city. Ground-floor activation and shared amenities are designed to encourage interaction and make use of outdoor spaces between the towers.

Designed by Falconer Chester Hall, the project aims to create a new gateway into Liverpool’s commercial district. Architect Adam Hall said the buildings would contribute to the evolving city skyline, with views north toward the new Bramley-Moore Dock football stadium and beyond to Blackpool and the Lake District.

The site’s layout incorporates improved public realm, with a designated pedestrian and cycle route running through Back Leeds Street and connecting to the northern edge of the plot. Enhancements made during the planning process include increased glazing at street level to boost natural surveillance, upgraded cycle infrastructure, improved elevation treatments with high-quality materials, and a planting and lighting strategy intended to enhance the character of the area.

Sustainability features are central to the scheme. The all-electric buildings will use air source heat pumps and heat recovery systems, and the development has been designed to support active travel and low car dependency. The site is located close to public transport and within walking distance of key leisure and employment areas in the city centre.

Packaged Living’s development manager Edwina Coward said the project benefited from extensive public consultation, which helped shape the final scheme. “We’re excited to be bringing forward a landmark development at this prominent gateway site. An extensive public consultation unlocked the wisdom of the Liverpool public, and we were delighted at the quality of people’s ideas and observations,” she said.

Demolition of the former computer centre is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with construction expected to start in early 2027. A main contractor for the scheme has not yet been appointed.

The development occupies a site with historical industrial significance. Formerly the location of Blundell & Sons coal yard, the site once served barges using the adjacent terminus of the Leeds–Liverpool canal. The nearby listed lock-keepers’ cottages, now part of the Radisson Blu hotel, are the only remaining physical trace of the canal’s route into the city centre.