Work on a multi-million pound project to convert a former BHS store housed in a Liverpool city region Victorian building into apartments is now under way. Andrew Brown reports
This is how the former BHS / Broadbents store in Southport town centre will look when work is complete.
A team of workers is currently busy on site, with scaffolding installed to the front of the landmark Victorian era building – built in 1871 – and along the Corporation Street side.
The scheme is being driven by new owners APG Capital, which purchased the development from previous owners JSM Group.
Planning permission was granted by Sefton Council in 2022 to convert the upper floors (first, second, third and fourth floors) of the former BHS / Broadbents department store into 30 new self-contained apartments. It would also include a new roof terrace.
The ground floor already contains some commercial space, including the Hugo Lounge cafe, although some vacant space is also available. APG Capital has submitted a scheme of works to Sefton Council for the work being carried out.
On its website APG said: “Located in the heart of Southport, the Chapel Street Development is an exciting project that transforms a former BHS department store into 30 high-quality apartments.
“The development will feature 27 two-bedroom and three one-bedroom apartments, designed to meet modern living standards in a prime town centre location.
“Chapel Street is set to become a sought-after residential and commercial hub, offering a blend of contemporary living spaces and thriving retail opportunities.”
The firm has submitted a fresh application to Sefton Council asking for permission to vary the requirement relating to the provision of affordable housing.
The firm says it has made “extensive efforts to engage with 10 registered housing providers”, but despite persistent efforts, has received no response.
It suggests that in response to the lack of interest, they are willing to pay a capital payment in lieu of on-site provision, in order to avoid “significant delays” to the project.
Planning permission has been granted for the layout of an outdoor seating area to Chapel Street and Corporation Street.
According to local resident David Drummond: “This fine building was originally built by the high end grocery and tea and coffee merchants Barrett & Birtwistle in 1871. The building was originally much larger and grander with twin turrets. Barrett & Birtwistle sadly did not survive World War One and sold the building to Broadbent & Co.
“Under this firm’s management, it re-opened in 1919 and remained Broadbents until the firm merged with Boothroyds in the 1980s, whereupon it sold the Chapel Street Store to BHS and moved in with Boothroyds at its flagship store on Lord Street.”
The 19th century BHS / Broadbents building has deteriorated in recent years, suffering from neglect and vandalism, to the point of being put on the ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register by Sefton Council.
The local authority has already given its consent to the creation of three separate ground floor retail units, a restaurant / cafe (now occupied by Hugo Lounge) and a pub on the ground floor.
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The 53,339 sq ft building four-storey has sat empty and has been repeatedly vandalised over many years, since the sudden closure of BHS nine years ago.
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie wrote: “The development will derive public benefits to a substantial degree in the form of bringing back into use a prominent and distinct building within Southport’s Town Centre which has been vacant for some time.”
BHS Southport was one of the chain’s 164 stores which went into administration in April 2016, resulting in the loss of 11,000 jobs nationwide. As well as Southport, BHS also lost shops in Liverpool, St Helens, Warrington and Widnes. The closures ended an 88 year presence on the high street.