Sutcliffe led the conservation and conversion of the historic Tobacco Warehouse, a pivotal project that ignited the transformation of the previously derelict docks. Originally constructed in 1901 as the world’s largest brick warehouse, this landmark was situated within the original Stanley Dock.
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Project challenges
One of the main challenges was preserving the building’s historic Victorian façade while undertaking sensitive demolition of the internal 12-storey core. This required careful planning to ensure structural integrity and historical accuracy. We also faced logistical difficulties in reconfiguring the warehouse into a modern 15-storey apartment block, including integrating commercial spaces and an underground car park within the existing structure.
Despite these challenges, our team successfully navigated the complexities of working with a historic building, contributing to a billion-pound redevelopment of the docks area. The project not only revitalised a key landmark but also marked a significant milestone in the area’s regeneration.
Sustainability details
The warehouse contained 27,000,000 bricks, 8,000,000kg of steel/iron and 22,500m3 of concrete and had the building been demolished, the embodied energy lost would have amounted to 450,000,000,000J and 250,000,000 tonnes of landfill. This equates to the same amount of energy to heat all Liverpool’s homes for four months.
The reuse of the existing structure reduces the energy used in construction/ demolition. The existing structure has heritage, and the development enhances and protects this for future generations, with minimal exterior alteration.
The use of renewable and energy efficient technologies has been thoroughly embraced, with the building connected to the Mersey Heat district network and therefore, co-benefiting from net zero and low carbon energy. Mersey Heat will contribute towards the UK Government’s C02 and net zero targets and make Liverpool a much greener place to live.
The proposals for the penthouse were designed and constructed considering the bio-diversity, allowing for two peregrine falcons – which are on the UK’s Amber list for endangered birds – to nest without interference. Also, a watching brief was established to ensure methodologies were adhered to throughout the project to account for the changing of the nesting locations.
The building is constructed adjacent to the dock system and even though rainfall has dramatically increased since it was constructed, all rainwater is discharged directly into the docks, which puts no pressure on the main drainage system servicing the City of Liverpool. This is one of the most sustainable drainage systems in the City, with no risk of causing flooding off site.