Bridewell prison to be converted into student housing

Plans have been given the go-ahead to convert the notorious Bridewell jail on Cheapside (off Dale Street) into student flats.

Permission has been given to Jam Works Limited who plan to create 15 student flats consisting of 86 rooms with en-suite facilities.

But it’s a building with a eerie past – once described as “the worst jail in Britain”, the Bridewell was built as an escape-proof lock-up, and is one of the country’s best surviving examples of the Victorian penal system.

The Grade-II listed building housed Merseyside criminals between 1857 and 1999, but has remained empty for a decade and is on a buildings-at-risk register.

Bridewell: new student digs

And it’s been no easy feat – the plans have been met with resistance from English Heritage who are concerned the conversion will alter what makes the building historically unique. Commenting on plans  to lower the window sills, a spokeswoman has claimed the changes will affect the ‘grim’ expression of the building.

Architects have agreed to preserve the original window size in student bedrooms, but have been given permission to alter them in shared kitchen facilities.

The creepy corridors set to house new inmates

The news comes as some 5000 new students bedrooms have been approved for development in 2013. And just last year developers were given the go-ahead s to convert the Scandinavian Hotel into halls.

And new projects have been sweeping across the city – the Hahnemann Hospital on Hope Street, the Tinlings Buildings and Crosshall Building on Croshall Street and Victoria Street, and St Andrew’s Church on Rodney Street, among others, have also been given permission for development.

Once dubbed “the worst jail in Britain”

Unsurprisingly, angry residents from the Liverpool One Community Action Group, have expressed their outrage over the surge in student digs – thanks to excessive litter and noise.

But it looks like the City Councillors are on our side, defending the the moves as necessary for the development of the city, creating jobs and putting long dormant and dilapidating buildings to use.

Like The Tab on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.