Planners at Liverpool City Council give the go-ahead for the conversion of former Watson Prickard fashion store in Liverpool into 47 one-bedroom apartments. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s former Watson Prickard fashion store will be converted into a residential complex after getting the go-ahead from city planners.
In October 2024, LBN reported that local developer Legacie was keen to convert 1 Union Court, on the corner of Cook Street and North John Street into apartments. It originally wanted to create 55 one-bed apartments but this has now been reduced to 47.
This building was for many years occupied by Watson Pickard, a department store that originally opened in 1893.
It later became a “stylish” fashion outlet for men and women and also had a large train set on the top floor. Radio listeners will remember the catchy radio jingle for the store in the 1980s… “Tell us the place where real style is back in fashion”.
Sadly, the store closed its doors for the final time in 2010 although the Watson Prickard name can still be seen at the top. The upper floors were converted for office use.
Until recent years industrial tribunals were heard on one of the floors and there is currently a Slug & Lettuce bar and restaurant on the ground floor.
In 2019 plans to convert it to a hotel came to nothing. Now the Legacie plans, submitted to Liverpool City Council, will see the 36,000 sq ft of offices converted into apartments. The Slug & Lettuce will be unaffected by the scheme.
READ MORE: Liverpool developer wins consent for £110m project
Savills is advising Legacie on planning and Falconer Chester Hall is the architect. This is the latest in multiple schemes in Liverpool for Legacie which is currently on site at The Gateway in Leeds Street and the former Heaps Rice Mill scheme in the Baltic Triangle.
Earlier in February Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram visited The Gateway to meet apprentices and trainees.
As part of its Bright Futures scheme, Legacie, supported by sales partner RWInvest, welcomes young apprentices and trainees from Merseyside each year, who are not currently in education, employment, or training.
“We’re proud of our Bright Futures initiative and its impact on the lives of young people across the region,” said John Morley, founder and chief executive of Legacie.
