New-look union HQ

Mar 5 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANSPORT House, the former Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) building in Commutation Row in Liverpool city centre, is to be given a major refurbishment by its new owner Unite the Union.

The move comes after negotiations to sell the freehold on the building were completed by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), city centre regeneration company Liverpool Vision and Unite.

Planning consent has been granted to refurbish the entire building creating a 30,000 sq ft district headquarters for Unite including a complete re-cladding of the exterior with a sandstone render that will be in-keeping with the appearance of other buildings in the area and provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Transport House has been vacant since 2000. Martin Lloyd, head of property at the NWDA, said: “This building sits in a key location in Liverpool and its revival will help to continue the transformation of the city centre.”

The refurbishment is expected to start in April and take around nine months to complete. The building will be operational in 2009.

tonymcdonough