A project milestone has been reached on a £39 million mixed-use development in Lime Street, Liverpool.

Contractor ISG has achieved the 'topping out' stage of the scheme, which involves Ion Developments working alongside the council to regenerate the north eastern side of Lime Street.

Once finished, the development will include more than 28,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, a 412-bed student block and a 101-room Premier Inn hotel.

Since September last year, work has been continuing to erect a 1,300-tonne steel frame for 11-storeys of student accommodation as well as the three-storey hotel.


To mark the 'topping out' milestone, attendees signed a canvas print of the images which will become the façade of the building.

Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Ann O'Byrne, said: "Lime Street is the first impression of Liverpool for thousands of visitors every day, so it's great to see this landmark scheme by Ion taking shape and adding much needed vibrancy to this vital corridor.

"Once complete, as well as creating jobs, it will also provide a great foundation for the work the city council will undertake to remodel the northern end of Lime Street and for the future developments at the southern end connecting to the Knowledge Quarter gateway."

Steve Parry, managing director at Ion, said: "This is a welcome moment in the timeline of this iconic development, which will bring leisure and retail back to this once thriving street. It is from this point forward that the scheme will really start to come to life and we will see the re-emergence of Lime Street as an important part of the city's cultural identity."

(LM)