The University of Liverpool is going back to square one in its long-running bid to lease a new campus in the City of London.
The institution is in negotiations to lease around 80,000 sq ft at 33 Finsbury Square, EC2 – the second time it has attempted to take space in the building.
It first placed the entire scheme under offer in January, with a view to starting courses in September. But it walked away from the deal in June in favour of an 85,000 sq ft deal at Freshwater’s 26 Finsbury Square.
The deal collapsed, however, when Islington planners rejected a change of use from office to non-residential institution in September.
UoL had been considering appealing the decision, made under delegated powers. It is understood to have now ruled this out on cost grounds.
Instead it is revisiting the original deal at 33 Finsbury Square, which is owned by Meritcape, a vehicle controlled by the Mahboubian family.
DTZ and GVA are letting agents at 33 Finsbury Square; BNP Paribas Real Estate and Jones Lang LaSalle are letting agents at 26 Finsbury Square.
jack.sidders@estatesgazette.com
