Liverpool Council picks AY as property partner

Liverpool City Council has selected Avison Young as a strategic property partner to drive the development of its city-wide property portfolio. The appointment comes as Liverpool Council’s intervention ends in June, with government commissioners confirming to the secretary of state that the council is a “well-governed, improving organisation, with ambitious leaders committed to long-term change”. The council’s cabinet has approved the introduction of a property improvement plan, which will enable the council to accelerate its regeneration priorities, drive place-based investment, support the economy and local businesses, and promote better outcomes for communities. As such, AY will be tasked to help the council to implement the property improvement plan over the next three years. The agent is also expected to support the council’s ambition to deliver further investment in, and improvements to, its buildings and spaces.[caption id="attachment_1239640" align="aligncenter" width="847"] L-R: Stephen Cowperthwaite and Louise Pilgrim of Avison Young, with Nick Small, Nuala Gallagher and David Lord of Liverpool City Council[/caption]AY has been managing the council-owned Spine building in Paddington Village since January, and will now be looking at improving commercial returns from the Grade I listed Cunard Building, Croxteth Hall, and other buildings. The work will include co-developing a strategic approach to the management of the council’s property assets, the design and roll-out of a new corporate landlord model and to provide real estate advice on the council’s workplace strategy. The firm will also provide senior experienced resources to augment the council’s existing staff to support on valuation and property management activities. Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy at Liverpool City Council, said: “This partnership, which will see the implementation of the new property improvement plan, will better enable us to deliver for communities, strengthen our proposition as a city, and collaborate with partners to drive forward improvements to enable growth.” Stephen Cowperthwaite, regional managing director for Liverpool and managing director of UK regions at Avison Young UK, said: “We know the importance of local authorities delivering for their communities, and we’re well placed to support the strategic objectives of the council going forward, building a modernised, fit-for-purpose property portfolio to bring the city’s ambitions into the future.”