Old Haymarket

Urban Splash’s commitment to expanding the possibilities for urban communities and lifestyles is well exemplified by this highly successful mixed-use development. Old Haymarket seems to be both benefiting from, and contributing to, the increased buzz in Liverpool City Centre. The residential flats have proved popular - sales and resale figures have been very good and the only complaints have been about loud music from some of the tenants.

No affordable housing was actually required under the terms of the lease, but Urban Splash thought it would be beneficial to creating diversity in the area. A number of the apartments, therefore, were sold by Maritime Housing on a shared ownership basis, the first joint venture for Urban Splash.

The development is undoubtedly attractive and photographs of the sympathetic exterior treatments and courtyard appear on many urban regeneration websites and publications. Old Haymarket won a Design for Homes Award (2003) and the judges cited the treatment of the secure inner courtyard and careful detailing throughout as being particularly impressive. One disappointment for Urban Splash was not being able to use artists throughout the site, due to funding difficulties. The use of interesting paving and quality materials did however serve to lift the quality of the urban environment. This approach to improving the environment has been endorsed by 'Liverpool Vision', an independent company developing a strategy to guide the regeneration of the whole of Liverpool city centre.

The redevelopment of Old Haymarket consisted of upgrading and the conservation of the existing building envelopes, with a raised residential courtyard of in-situ concrete poured to form the deck. Support was supplied by a steel frame with CHS columns to replicate the original cast iron columns retained in the basement.

The open plan, spacious apartment interiors have warm, open brickwork and exposed steel support girders, emphasising the building’s character and original use. Unique features such as sloping roofs and unusually shaped rooms have also been retained. Compact galley kitchens make the most of the space available whilst providing high level facilities. The mix of Edwardian conversion and new building is seamless. Some apartments span both eras, with the new building façade forming both a punctuation point for the refurbishment on the exterior and an introduction to the adjacent new buildings planned for the next phase.