ACL staff will relocate from Princes Dock in October and occupy half the Duke Street building

Global shipping giant Atlantic Container Line (ACL) has made 20,000 sq ft of office space available for rent at its new Liverpool city centre headquarters.

In October, ACL will move its 168 staff from Princes Dock to the purpose-built building in Duke Street.

They will occupy half of the 40,000 sq ft, four-storey site with the firm offering the other half , on the ground and first floor, to the local occupier market.

It will be the only new-build grade A space to become available in the city centre this year.

Real estate and development group Network Space developed the new building on behalf of ACL having originally acquired the derelict buildings and vacant site from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Main contractor Wates Construction started on the steel framed building in November 2014, working to a design by architects DLA Design.

ACL’s UK managing director, Ian Higby, said: “90 Duke Street, is one of the best located, best equipped and best designed office buildings in the city.

“It is right in the heart of a vibrant area on the doorstep of Liverpool One and is ideal for companies wanting an address that speaks volumes for their ambitions.

“We are looking for businesses to join us, in this exciting new building,who share ACL’s vision to invest in the regeneration of Liverpool and create jobs for talented local people.

“ACL has nearly doubled its staff numbers over the last couple of years and we expect further growth with our five new fourth generation container RORO vessels.

“These ships are coming into service this year and will double ACL’s capacity on the North Atlantic service and are the biggest CONRO ships ever built.”

ACL staged a launch even to promote the building to local commercial agents.