Antrobus Electrical

Countdown to completion: Liverpool’s Clock Tower Park renovations in the final phase

Ongoing renovations to Liverpool’s iconic sandstone Clock Tower are ramping up as the structure nears completion and the clock continues to tick into its second century.

The final phase of the Clock Tower development started in October 2021 when work began on the three-storey building, dubbed Phase 26. When complete, the Grade II listed building will house 80,000 sq ft of prime office space within an original stone shell, preserving its look and feel.

The team at Antrobus Electrical were appointed by the developer’s Next Big Thing in June 2022 to manage the installation of the electrics across all three floors, from essential lights, sockets, and consumer units through to state-of-theart CCTV, data points, access control and alarm systems.

Clock Tower Park first opened in 1890 as a philanthropic project that today remains an integral part of Liverpool’s social history. The Clock Tower stands surrounded by two lines of cottages on either side – 24 in total, known as the Fazakerley Cottage homes. The Fazakerley Cottages once operated as an orphanage and children’s home located in Liverpool, England. A relic of the Victorian era, the homes were built to accommodate up to 600 children at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, after falling into disrepair following their closure as an orphanage in 1977 and being purchased by local developers Next Big Thing Developments in 2014, these cottages have been rediscovered as an exemplar of how you can breathe new life into abandoned structures while staying true to the original purpose they served. The cottages gained a new lease of life when Next Big Thing renovated them; there is an overall vision for their future development which will see it become an extended living community where families can live, work, play, shop and socialise together and thrive in a sustainable way.

As the development heads into the final phase, local contractors, including Antrobus Electrical, are working towards completing the heart of the project - The Clock Tower.

During the project, Antrobus Electrical brought their expertise and attention to detail, working within the challenging environment of a Grade II-listed building.

‘Antrobus Electrical have been, at all times, very aware that the listed building is protected. With this in mind, extra care has been taken to ensure that the building retained its integrity and appearance that led to it being listed

in the first place, with any damage being kept to an absolute minimum during the course of completing the work. Given that older buildings may have unusual wiring configurations, it has been a task that required a lot of time and patience with additional care taken along every step of the project. It is crucial to install the right equipment when working on a listed building, as requirements will differ greatly from what would be generally encountered in any other property type. For example, light switches, external wires, brackets and so on all need to be in keeping with the overall aesthetic of the building.

Any decisions made were always in close consultation with the project team to ensure we stayed on budget and within the timeframe.’ Phil Antrobus – Technical Director and Approved Electrician

Photography by Steve Heatherill My Day Photography

Antrobus Electrical was established in Leyland in 2019, relocating to Southport in 2021. The team has extensive experience working on domestic, commercial, and industrial projects, with a varied portfolio highlighting a broad knowledge and excellence within their field. With a consultative approach and firstclass customer service Antrobus Electrical has worked locally over the years to support other businesses and developers; their exceptional reputation has been the driver of organic and exponential growth. To date, the business has the capabilities and resources enabling them to work on several commercial and industrial projects, which reflects wide-ranging expertise and skillset.

‘Antrobus Electrical are proud to have been part of this fascinating project. It’s been great to see this rundown historic building returned to its former glory, bringing it up to modern standards. This enviable office facility will put this landmark back on the map.’ Phil Antrobus – Technical Director and Approved Electrician

About Antrobus Electrical Antrobus Electrical is a friendly, family-run business, and they pride themselves on delivering the highest quality service at competitive prices with no hidden costs.

With over 18 years’ of experience, the team specialise in creating, updating and renovating electrical systems in commercial, industrial and domestic settings, provided to homes and businesses throughout the North West.

Contact the team to arrange a quotation visit or to discuss your project.

Tel: 01704 651955 www.antrobus-electrical.com