Redevelopment of Henry Cotton Building as part of new estate plan
Work will get under way this month on the transformation of Henry Cotton Building in the first phase of the university’s newly-published estate strategy.
Contractors will be setting up on site during the week beginning Monday 8 December to begin a major project to provide modern, flexible facilities for students and staff, decarbonise the building and improve its appearance and layout.
The works – which are scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2027 – are a key element of the LJMU Estate Plan 2025-2028, which sets out the university’s aims to deliver an appropriately-sized, financially sustainable and carbon neutral campus that meets the needs of staff and students.
About the Henry Cotton Building redevelopment
The improvements to Henry Cotton Building will deliver:
- An attractive, redesigned entrance to the building with a double-height foyer, improved reception and increased natural lighting
- Additional teaching spaces including larger classrooms and a new Harvard-style lecture theatre, aligned with cohort sizes, to support flexible and high-quality teaching and learning experiences
- A new student zone, staff offices, staff lounge and meeting spaces
The refurbishment will support the university’s commitment to sustainability and its ambition of reaching net zero carbon. The building will be decarbonised, with new photovoltaic panels, increased thermal efficiency and new mechanical heating and ventilation. These enhancements are in addition to the air source heat pumps already in use.
The redevelopment of Henry Cotton Building will transform one of our key assets in a major gateway site in the city centre. The new facilities, layout and appearance will make this a fantastic place for our students and staff to study, work and socialise.
Mark Askem, LJMU’s Director of Estate Development
Accessing the building during the works
Some areas of the building will remain operational during the redevelopment works.
Teaching will continue on the ground floor throughout the redevelopment for the School of Engineering and Built Environment. The works are being undertaken in a sequential manner to reduce the impact of disruption and ensure the health and safety of people using the building.
From January 2026, staff and students will need to use an alternative route to enter and exit the building. As shown on the map, this is via an entrance on Trueman Street.
If you are scheduled to work in Henry Cotton Building during the redevelopment, you will receive more information from the Estates team via your line manager.
About the LJMU Estate Plan 2025-2028
The approved plan sets out how the university will manage its estate over the next three years.
The main focus of the LJMU Estate Plan 2025-2028 is on ensuring the university is consolidating its estate and using its existing assets effectively – investing in buildings to make sure they are run efficiently and flexibly, support the university’s net zero ambitions, and help deliver an outstanding student experience.
Professor Clare Milsom, LJMU’s Registrar and Chief Operating Officer
In addition to the redevelopment of Henry Cotton Building, a number of specific projects are outlined in the plan.
Soho Street Services Hub
This project will bring together key operational functions such as catering, IT workshops, post and fleet, and campus service stores into a purpose-designed services hub.
Relocation of professional services from Exchange Station
The university’s lease at Exchange Station expires in 2027. To improve the utilisation and efficiency of the campus, teams currently based in Exchange Station will be consolidated into a series of professional services hubs within existing LJMU buildings. This will realise significant financial savings from leasing space at Exchange Station.
To ensure we have the appropriate facilities and spaces for the relocation, a number of projects will be delivered:
- A major refurbishment to Mount Pleasant Library and Aquinas Building
- Refurbishment of City Library and Tithebarn Building
- A review of staff accommodation in Redmonds Building and adaptations to teaching spaces
Disposal of buildings
To realise further operational financial savings and rationalise our estate, the university will be marketing for sale a number of vacant and under-utilised buildings: the IM Marsh site, 2 Rodney Street (Egerton Court), 4-6 Rodney Street and 10 Rodney Street.
You can read more about the LJMU Estate Plan 2025-2028.
