Following the opening of the Titanic hotel in Liverpool, UK’s city centre, the same company behind it has proposed plans to redevelop the council-owned Millennium House to become a Bill Shankly-themed aparthotel and museum in a £15m ($25m, €18.1m) scheme.
Signature Living is proposing a 250-bedroom hotel, complete with a museum dedicated to Shankly and 17,500sq ft (1,625sq m) of office space.
The building would house Signature Living's head office, while the Lifestyles Gym currently based in the property would undergo an expansion and be leased back by the council, under the proposals.
Bill Shankly was a Scottish footballer and manager and is best known for his time managing Liverpool, which he lead to 11 titles during his run as a manager including three first division wins in the 1960s and 70s.
"Liverpool's sporting heritage is celebrated throughout the world, but we do not have a major football attraction in the city centre,” said Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson.
“These proposals would change that, providing a permanent tribute to one of our most famous footballing heroes, filling a gap within our tourism market, and attracting visitors from across the globe.
"This really is a unique project, and something people would not be able to experience anywhere else in the world. A hotel celebrating the life, times and achievements of Bill Shankly would complement the raft of cultural attractions on the nearby William Brown Street, and further boost our tourism offer in this part of the city.”
The plans are to be discussed at a council cabinet meeting on 4 April and if approved, a planning application will be lodged later this month.
Construction of the aparthotel and office conversion would begin in early 2015 with the scheme set for completion by March 2016.
Signature Living also recently opened the former headquarters of the shipping company responsible for building the ill-fated Titanic as a themed hotel.
Albion House in Liverpool, the former base of White Star Line, has undergone a £5.5m ($8.3m, €6m) renovation
to become a luxury hotel paying homage to the sunken ship. All rooms have references to the operators and the era in which the Titanic was built, along with information points about people linked to the doomed ship. The 350-bedroom aparthotel includes a gym, bar and restaurant.
