A revamp project on North Western Halls on Lime Street is still to go ahead, despite a building firm’s collapse which put 130 people’s jobs at risk.
Marcus Worthington & Company, a construction firm from Preston, was placed into administration last week, causing initial confusion as to the future of the proposed development.
But now, due to a private investment fund, the £30m project at the North Western Halls, will still proceed.
The LJMU student accommodation block on Lime Street is set to be redeveloped into a Radisson Hotel.
The Marcus Worthington Company originally started on this building last year with a proposed finish date of autumn 2020, but the firm’s financial problems put that in jeopardy.
A statement on behalf of the company read: “It is with deep regret and sadness that an administrator has been appointed to Marcus Worthington and Company Limited, the construction part of our business.
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“Our primary thought at this time is with our staff. All our employees have been paid up-to-date as of September 30 and we will be supporting those affected in any way we can. We are consulting with our subcontractors and will update them in due course.”
Andrew Taylor, a PR representative for Marcus Worthington Company, told JMU Journalism that the firm’s fate is still unknown.
He said: “It’s still early days in the administration process and things just aren’t known yet. The statement we previously issued says everything we’re sure on and we can’t add too much more. We are consulting with our subcontractors and will update them in due course.”
A spokesman Marcus Worthington Company said: “The redevelopment of this building will benefit the city to have it back in public use for people to enjoy after many decades of being used privately.”
The historic North Western Halls building has been around since the 1870s. Originally constructed as a hotel, the building was converted into a student accommodation in the late 90s, having been empty and unused for decades before.