Construction on a new £35m ‘net zero’ office building could start in Liverpool in summer 2023 as a planning application is submitted to the city council. Tony McDonough reports
Work on a new £35m ‘net zero’ office building for Paddington Village in Liverpool could begin in summer 2023.
Sciontec Developments has submitted a planning application for the scheme to the city council. Sciontec is jointly owned by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool and Bruntwood SciTech.
First unveiled in December, HEMISPHERE, will feature 120,000 sq ft of grade A office space for health, education, science and tech occupiers. It will be located next to The Spine, a 14-storey office scheme that also cost £35m and opened in May last year.
Alongside the office space, HEMISPHERE will include an array of collaboration spaces, a wellness studio, café, alongside extensive new areas of high-quality public realm. If work does start next summer completion is expected by summer 2025.
Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec, said: “HEMISPHERE will be Sciontec’s first new build project. It will enhance our existing provision of high-quality workspace for leading health, science, technology and digital businesses in the Liverpool city region.
“HEMISPHERE will also generate a wide range of economic, social, and environmental benefits for the local area. Together with our partners, we are proud to be developing a unique building with innovative amenities that support health, social and cultural well-being.”
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) has offered a pre-development funding support package for the project. This follows the £12m already invested in Paddington Village from the CA’s Single Investment Fund.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “With world-leading industry clusters in infectious disease control, materials chemistry, and AI, all on our doorstep, we have a thriving innovation economy.
“But to keep it growing, it’s vital that we are able to offer businesses the high-tech, sustainable office space they need to flourish and catapult our area to the forefront of UK innovation.”