A historic warehouse in Liverpool, once believed to be the largest in the world, is being transformed in a massive £250 million redevelopment project. The Tobacco Warehouse, built in 1901, was originally used to store flammable tobacco and is made up of 13 million bricks, 8,000 tonnes of steel, and 22,500 cubic metres of concrete.
Now, it is at the centre of a project to revive Liverpool’s docklands, turning it into a multi-use development with apartments, retail spaces, and leisure facilities. Sean Keyes, the CEO of the engineering firm behind the project, Sutcliffe, told the Express that it will preserve the cultural and historical significance of the warehouse while creating a new destination for residents and tourists. He said: “The overriding aim of the project is to maintain this Victorian-era building for future generations. It is an iconic Liverpool heritage landmark, and it sits within the largest and most complete system of historic docks anywhere in the world.”
Designed by civil engineer Arthur G. Lyster, the Tobacco Warehouse has stood for over a century but was left largely derelict for the last 50 years.
“This part of Liverpool has been undergoing a major transformation after decades of decline,” Keyes explained. “The warehouse was the largest in the world when it was built, and keeping its original structure intact has been essential to our sustainability objectives.”
The redevelopment is also part of a wider regeneration project across Liverpool’s docklands, which includes the new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, set to be completed over the coming months.
“That project alone is expected to inject £1 billion into the local economy, create 15,000 jobs, and attract 1.4 million visitors,” said Keyes. He added: “Tobacco Warehouse is helping to reinvigorate the Atlantic Corridor and will be a catalyst for further investment.”
But transforming the massive building has not been without its challenges.
“The warehouse’s size and design made it difficult to repurpose,” Keyes said. “Two key obstacles were the lack of natural light in the core of the building and the low ceiling heights, which were originally built to store two stacked tobacco bales.”
To overcome these, engineers cut three large cores within the building to allow light to reach the centre while keeping the exterior intact. Some floors have also been removed to create double-height apartments.
“This was done in a way that conservationists supported, as we are preserving as much of the original structure as possible,” Keyes explained.
Once complete in 2028, the redeveloped warehouse will house 1,500 residents, with the ground floor set to feature cafés, bars, and leisure spaces, bringing a European-style outdoor culture to the docks.
Keyes said: “This will help the local economy flourish, as businesses benefit from increased footfall. We are already seeing investment in hotels and leisure spaces in the surrounding areas.”
The project is also focusing on sustainability. The warehouse is connected to the Mersey Heat district network, reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the UK’s net zero targets.
“Rather than demolishing the warehouse and sending millions of tonnes of materials to landfill, we have reused the existing structure, significantly cutting energy consumption,” Keyes added.
But beyond its size, the warehouse has other unique historical quirks.
“A fact only noticeable to structural engineers is that it was built inside a former dock,” Keyes revealed.
He added: “The dock was partially filled in, but remnants of the old dock walls can still be seen by those who know where to look.”
The redevelopment has also been sensitive to local wildlife.
“Our penthouse designs took biodiversity into account, allowing two peregrine falcons – a species on the UK Amber List – to nest without disturbance,” Keyes explained.
Considering all of the above, Keyes claimed that the Tobacco Warehouse could become one of Liverpool’s standout landmarks once again.
He said: “The potential of this area is huge. This project is just the beginning of something much bigger.”