DEVELOPERS behind the £8m Central Buildings plans in Crosby village are set to buy up a large part of the town centre.
Just days after Sefton Council approved plans to build a shops, offices and flats complex on the site of Central Buildings, the Maghull Group has confirmed it has agreed a deal with Isle of Man company, Portville, to buy its portfolio of property in Crosby.
It includes:
* The site of the former houses in Allen-gate facing Sainsbury's, which has been wasteland since the demolition of houses four years ago.
* Glenn Buildings, the 100-metre row of shops in Moor Lane from Kwik Save to Best Stop DIY including Delta Taxis offices and Crosby Conservative Club.
* Properties opposite Glenn Buildings, 15-27 Moor Lane, including those leased bySatterthwaites, Blues and St Mary's Old Boys' Association.
* The site of the former Crosby Conservative Association HQ alongside the Bypass.
* The large houses at 18, 20 and 24 Moor Lane between Kwik Save and the Northern Road roundabout.
Contracts have been exchanged with Portville, owned by multi-millionaire Albert Gubay, and the purchase is expected to be formally completed by March 24.
Businessman Mr Gubay, 75, who started out in business 'selling Black-pool rock out of the back of a van' and made his estimated £650m personal fortune through the Kwik Save chain, Total Fitness gyms and a portfolio of British property valued at around £350m, has owned the Crosby properties for several years.
In total, Maghull Group will now own more than a quarter of the retail properties in Crosby village.
Maghull Developments Ltd, a subsidiary of Liverpool-based Maghull Group, intend to retain and manage the properties. No detailed redevelopment plans have yet been drawn up although a 'mixed use' development may be built on the Allengate site if planning permission is obtained.
Any residential properties, which are currently vacant and have fallen into disrepair, will be refurbished.
Commercial and residential development schemes undertaken by the Maghull Group across the North West have an investment value in excess of £275 million.
Meanwhile, 120-year-old Central Buildings in Crosby village will be demolished this autumn, confirmed Maghull Development's managing director Mike Hanlon, who lives in Blundellsands.
The new building is scheduled for completion in September 2007.
Mr Hanlon said: "We are delighted. We hope this planning approval will act as a catalyst for further investment and regeneration within the town centre, enhance the vitality and viability of Crosby town centre and also create more jobs for the local community."
All tenants in Central Buildings are expected to be served six months' notice in the next few days.
The new development will have 10,000 sq ft of retail space, 10 two-bedroom luxury apartments and 12,500 sq ft of office space.
Marks & Spencer, Simply Food, Tesco, Argos, HomeBargains and Specsavers have all shown interest in the scheme, said Mr Hanlon.
The plans were approved by council-lors at a meeting in Bootle Town Hall last Wednesday (February 15) by a majority of seven to five.
Business owners and residents had objected to the development and Blundellsands councillor Wendy Jones (Conservative) argued against the plan.
She said: "I am not against redevelopment but this is a landmark building and we do not want to be living with an eyesore.
"The design is mismatched and over-bearing next to the existing buildings. The apartments are more applicable to city centre living and Crosby does not need any more flats."
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