Signature Living expands into residential market

Hotel developer Signature Living has expanded into the residential market, following the completion of transforming a former college campus in Liverpool into a luxury apartment block. 

Founded and owned by hotelier Lawrence Kenwright, Liverpool-based Signature Living is best known for city centre hotels and venues, but purchased the Bankfield Centre in West Derby village from the City of Liverpool College in 2016.

The company, which operates the Shankly, Dixie Dean, Arthouse and Signature hotels in Liverpool, as well as the Alma de Cuba restaurant and bar, has converted the former education site into 87 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

As well as the residential scheme, Signature Living has secured planning for a new build 32-bed specialist care facility on part of the former car park to the site, which is set to be completed this year. 

Kenwright said: “While hotel development and events remain very much at the heart of the business, over the last five years we have been working to create that ‘hotel at home’ appeal by repurposing this building from its original use into a modern luxurious living accommodation.

“We believe that these spacious apartments at Bankfield will be perfect for the first-time buyer, couples and young professionals in a lovely leafy part of the city, close to all amenities as well as the city centre.” 

He added: “They are just off Queens Drive, minutes from the M62 and Liverpool’s city centre and, within yards of this building, there are amazing amenities, including a Lifestyles gym, schools, parks as well as supermarkets and a Marks and Spencer food hall.

“I’m delighted that this scheme has completed. For obvious reasons it has been tough of late for our hospitality businesses being hit hard by the impact of the pandemic, but we have soldiered on and are working as hard as ever to bring various schemes forward.”

Other recent schemes for the hotel group include the completion and opening of the Rainhill Hall Hotel near St Helens and the Dixie Dean Hotel in Liverpool city centre, opposite the group’s flagship hotel.

In addition, the Shankly Hotel in Preston is also progressing well with the former Post Office building’s roof now completed.

Kenwright added: “With Rainhill Hall and Dixie Dean hotels now open and work on Kingsway House and at the Shankly Preston continuing at pace I am hopeful of a strong 2021. It is a testament to the quality of the local people we have working on the schemes that we are still making such significant progress in such challenging times.”