Work has begun today on a £1million scheme to transform a landmark Victorian era location in Southport town centre.
Builders are now on site at The Cloisters building, which was previously occupied by Taskers Sports.
The site was originally built in 1898 to provide the Christ Church Higher Grade School, under the Hon Canon of Liverpool, The Revd JR Honeyburne.
The building will now host Techedia, creating 75 new jobs, plus a health and wellbeing centre.
Tech entrepreneur Matthew Townson has revealed his vision of redeveloping The Cloisters.
It is a further boost for the town centre area, which recently saw the former BHS building on Chapel Street bought by Liverpool firm JSM. That development will see a number of retail units on the ground floor with 30 apart hotel units on the upper floors.
The Techedia development will see builders divide the site into two units – one for a new health and wellbeing centre, and the other to house Mr Townson’s Techedia firm.
Techedia, which specialises in IT in the professional services sector, will move from its Crosby base where it has experienced year on year growth since its formation in 2013.
Mr Townson, who hails from Southport, hopes to more than double the size of Techedia and create around 75 jobs recruiting from the town’s schools and colleges which he once attended.
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Mr Townson acquired the 6,000sq ft Cloisters building, which also has a large rooftop terrace that was once a playground, this year, and said he will spend over £1million on the scheme.
He said: “As a proud Sandgrounder, I am grateful for the opportunity to bring such an important building in the town back to life after being empty for three years.
“We are keen to attract local people to work in the building and perhaps more importantly retain that talent, which in the past has moved elsewhere, as well as help fuel the local economy.
“Sefton Council has been extremely supportive and we’re continuing to work with them to ensure the building is not only eco-friendly but also provides services and activities for local people focusing on health, wellness and wellbeing.”
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