A mammoth £250 million revamp is set to breathe new life into historic Tobacco Warehouse, once touted as the world's largest.

Erected in 1901, this behemoth comprised 13 million bricks, 8,000 tonnes of steel, and a striking 22,500 cubic metres of concrete – primarily serving as a storage hub for combustible tobacco. The warehouse now takes centre stage in an ambitious endeavour to rejuvenate Liverpool's docklands, with plans to convert it into a vibrant mix-used development complete with residential units, shops and leisure amenities.

Sean Keyes, the CEO of the engineering firm behind the project, Sutcliffe said: "The overriding aim of the project is to maintain this Victorian-era building for future generations.

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"It is an iconic Liverpool heritage landmark, and it sits within the largest and most complete system of historic docks anywhere in the ."

Devised by Arthur G Lyster, the renowned civil engineer, the grand Tobacco Warehouse has stood proud for over 120 years yet succumbed to neglect for half that period.

Mr Keyes elaborated on the broader revival mission: "This part of Liverpool has been undergoing a major transformation after decades of decline," he noted.

"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 revamp is a key piece of Liverpool's extensive rejuvenation endeavours across its historic docklands, punctuated by the impending completion of Everton's new Bramley Moore Dock stadium in the upcoming months.

"That project alone is expected to inject £1 billion into the local economy, create 15,000 jobs, and attract 1.4 million visitors," revealed Keyes. He went on to assert: "Tobacco Warehouse is helping to reinvigorate the Atlantic Corridor and will be a catalyst for further investment."

However, the monumental task of transforming the gigantic edifice has been filled with obstacles, reports .

"The warehouse's size and design made it difficult to repurpose," admitted Keyes. "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."

Ingenuity was necessary to bypass these hurdles; engineers expertly cut three substantial cores in the structure for sunlight to penetrate the heart while conserving the historical façade. To fashion double-height living spaces, some levels were removed.

"This was done in a way that conservationists supported, as we are preserving as much of the original structure as possible," Keyes elaborated.

Looking ahead to its 2028 fruition, the transformed warehouse is set to provide a home for 1,500 residents alongside injecting life into the docklands with ground floor cafés, bars, and recreational spots, aimed at infusing a European flair for outdoor socialising at the waterfront.

Keyes remarked: "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 initiative is placing a strong emphasis on sustainability, too. The warehouse's connection to the Mersey Heat district network is set to slash carbon emissions and assist the UK in meeting its net zero ambitions.

"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 elaborated.

Yet, the warehouse's stature isn't its sole claim to notoriety - it harbours some fascinating historical nuances. "A fact only noticeable to structural engineers is that it was built inside a former dock," Keyes disclosed.

He went on to say: "The dock was partially filled in, but remnants of the old dock walls can still be seen by those who know where to look."

Efforts to redevelop have been mindful of the local wildlife as well. "Our penthouse designs took biodiversity into account, allowing two peregrine falcons - a species on the UK Amber List - to nest without disturbance," Keyes detailed.

Taking everything into account, Keyes asserted the Tobacco Warehouse might just reclaim its status as one of Liverpool's distinguished landmarks.

He declared: "The potential of this area is huge. This project is just the beginning of something much bigger."