Rejuvenating the 70,000 sq ft Grade II Listed Watson building the annex of the historic Lewis’s department store in the heart of Liverpool will be refurbished and extended onto the site of the former Rapid Hardware Shop. By retaining its original features, making full use of the existing seven floors and adding an additional two storeys a 170,000 sq ft, 180 key, four star-plus hotel will be created. The existing basement will provide underground parking for 16 cars.

Ian Jones, director of Merepark, part of Central Regeneration, said: ‘Working closely with our architects, Woods Bagot, we have developed a scheme which responds well to the local surroundings and provides another dynamic link to Central Village. Sustainability is at the centre of our vision and we’re confident that this proposal, combined with our plans for the Lewis’s building and Central Village, will result in an exciting mixed-use quarter that brings new purpose and opportunity to the city.’