A Merseyside-based shipping line is about to become the first in more than a century to get its own purpose-built Liverpool headquarters. The last was built for the Blue Funnel Line in 1924.
Atlantic Container Lines (ACL) will move into its new 40,000sq ft Duke Street offices early in 2016, transferring around 180 staff form its current Peel Holdings-owned base at Princes Dock. The decision to commission its own building follows the recent rapid growth at ACL — which is acquiring five new vessels to operate out of Liverpool’s Royal Seaforth Container Dock — and the recruitment of 50 extra workers in March.
Owned by parent company Grimaldi, ACL managing director Ian Higby commented: “A shipping line building its own headquarters with its own freehold has got to be something special and is a vote of confidence that we have the people here who have the right skills to run and expand our global operation.”
He said his company was also centralising a lot of its activity in the city. “We have brought work here from North America and Europe, and there is no doubt Liverpool is a great maritime city,” said Higby, adding the move would not have been possible without the support of the city council.
The project also received a £2.82m grant from the European Regional Development Fund and a £1.38m loan from the Chrysalis Fund, designed to kick-start Merseyside property schemes. “The building will provide superb accommodation for the business and sends a clear message regarding our commitment to our staff and to Liverpool,” Higby explained.
The shipping line will occupy two floors of its new office block and hopes to let the remaining two of the building currently under construction on the corner of Liverpool’s Duke Street and Henry Street. The work has involved the demolition of several old commercial properties, but the historic facade of the Vinegar Works on Henry Street will be retained.
English Heritage voiced concerns of the scheme, saying it was reluctant to see the demolition of the 86 Duke Street and considered the plan to represent a “substantial level of harm to the city’s designated heritage assets”. The project also attracted criticism from one of Britain’s top architectural heritage campaigner, Dr Gavin Stamp, who accused Liverpool of having a “suicidal tendency” in demolishing its Georgian buildings.
“The Georgian houses and warehouses in Duke Street are important as they date from when Liverpool was rising to greatness,” said the former 20th Century Society chairman. “They are precious — in a civilised city they would be preserved.”
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