Multi-million pound warehouses have been placed up for sale as the land grab around Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock continues.
A giant warehouse just yards from the doors of Everton’s new stadium has been listed for £1.5 million with Everton’s new stadium listed as the major reason for an investor to take the plunge.
The warehouse, which dates back to 1875, is on Blackstone Street and has 9,000 sq ft of space. However, it is in disrepair and would need planning permission if it was to be turned into a bar, hotel, or retail space because it has only ever been used for industrial uses.
The listing says: “The highly anticipated Everton FC’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is expected to draw significant foot traffic to the area.”
The warehouse could be used for pre- and post-match hospitality or as a hotel serving the stadium. Despite being described as having ‘modern’ fixtures and fittings, it would need a major overhaul to get it ready for match-going fans.
A second warehouse on Regent Street itself comes with an even higher price tag of £2.95 million. The property on 71-73 Regent Street is next to a row of new bars that include the new Blue House by Hot Wok, the Terrace Bar and The Old Lady directly opposite the stadium.
The listing says the 13,700 sq ft warehouse is “Suitable for refurbishment to a wide range of retail, leisure and match day related uses.”
The building previously housed Fluid Power, a company offering fluid services for hydraulics, pneumatics and engineering. The building is steel and brick frame with offices and storage on a mezzanine floor.
Many of the warehouses along Regent Road have already been snapped up by investors hoping to cash in on the new 53,888-capacity stadium on the banks of the River Mersey. They include three new bars along the North West corner of the stadium, a marquee on the site of Terry’s Timber and even applications for alcohol licences in cafes near to Sandhills station.
Everton are interested in buying land at Nelson Dock according to director Colin Chong, while unofficial hospitality units are being built at Collingwood Dock.
Speaking to a property conference last month, Everton’s former interim CEO and new Head of Stadium Development Colin Chong said: “Regeneration (of the area) started seven years ago when Everton started putting a planning application in.
“As soon as we put the planning application in there was speculative purchase of land nearby.”
Everton’s stadium sits at one end of one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe. Named Liverpool Waters, the dockland area between Bramley Moore and the city centre is the subject of £5.5bn of regeneration, according to owner Peel Ports.
Peel has secured planning permission for homes, retail, offices and cultural buildings stretching from Princes Dock in the city centre all the way to Bramley Moore stadium. Work has already begun on the Central Docks development that will see a major park and riverside walkway installed, as well as thousands of new homes en route to Bramley Moore.
The stadium has also been credited with revised plans for the adjacent Nelson Dock, which has planning permission for a large hotel to serve the stadium, a floating watersports centre, flats and retail spaces. Everton are interested in buying Nelson Dock from Peel with a view to redeveloping the area in a sympathetic manner to the stadium.