What is happening with Cavern Walks Hilton hotel plans?

Hotel was approved in 2024 but new plans for building now lodged

Plans for a new Hilton Hotel in Liverpool’s famous Mathew Street look to have been scrapped. In October 2024, the city council’s planning committee signed off on an expanded proposal for a 283-room hotel within the Cavern Walks shopping centre.

It was expected that through an agreement between JSM Company Group and entrepreneur Craig Greenwood, Hilton would bring its new line Motto by Hilton to the city. Plans for the venue also included a cinema room, function room and a bar.

However, new documents have been lodged with Liverpool City Council planners, solely by JSM, seeking to carry out internal change of use to install 85 serviced apartments on the first to seventh floors. Mr Greenwood had acquired Cavern Walks in a £7m joint venture with JSM in October 2022.

Two years later, the local authority gave its approval for the hotel plans to almost double, having already said yes to a 150-room set up previously. According to planning records, this was the subject of an article 40 disposal in February this year, meaning it was no longer held on file by the city council.

Initial plans sought to provide multi-bedded rooms, ranging from six to one within each room, to accommodate groups as well as individuals and couples. Speaking previously, Mr Greenwood, managing director of Greenwood Developments, said: “We are grateful to Liverpool City Council for their support as we progress with the development.

“The brand is a natural fit for the Cavern Quarter, and with its exceptional location in the heart of the action, the hotel will perfectly complement the area’s vibrant tourism scene.” The new proposal submitted by JSM in March said it would look to redevelop the site with a change of use from the previously approved hotel scheme to 85 serviced apartments located on the first to seventh floors, along with a gym and spa area located within the mezzanine floor.

The existing lower and upper ground floors will be refurbished, continuing their use of retail units. There are to be no external alterations to the property.

A design and access statement said the apartments will consist of a mixture of one and two beds, “providing luxury accommodation for visitors to Liverpool city centre. Each apartment has a large open plan kitchen/living/dining, along with spacious bedrooms and a bathroom.”

It added: “With the increase of visitors to the city centre, new serviced apartments in this significant, lively area will be a positive impact to Liverpool’s tourism. The application supports the need for varying developments to sustain population levels and to address the issues of urban density.

“The development can contribute to the identified regeneration programmes of the area and reduce the worsening decay of historic buildings within Liverpool city centre.” The LDRS attempted to contact JSM Company Group, Greenwood Developments and Hilton for comment.

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