‘Landmark’ building reduced to ‘skeleton’ as demolition continues

A landmark building in Bootle has been reduced to a “skeleton” as demolitions continue. The building, known locally as “The Giro”, was the former Girobank building.

It was a source of fond memories for many Bootle residents, with generations of families working there before it was closed and acquired by Santander. A planning application was approved by Sefton Council in 2019 to turn the site into a £75m ‘operational hud’.

These plans involved demolishing the existing building and creating a “high quality and sustainable office” along with a new park for public use. However, Santander withdrew these plans after deciding to consolidate its offices and introduce more flexible working. At the time, the decision to abandon the proposed redevelopment of the former Giro building was described by Sefton Council as “devastating”.

Although initial regeneration plans failed, the building’s demolition notice still stands. Now, after three years of delays, demolition work has begun; marking the end of an era for a site described by many local residents as a Bootle ‘landmark’.

Santander is not involved in the current work at the site, having sold the former Girobank campus to a private developer in March 2023. Chester-based Total Developments (TD) are the new owners and plan to create a “highly sustainable employment location” and have started a consultation process with the surrounding community.

Pictures taken by ECHO reader Gary Murphy Higgins this weekend showed how the building has now been left “skeletal”. Speaking to the ECHO, Gary said: “The old lady is being torn up for scrap metal. It makes me cry”.

Earlier this month, the ECHO published how In a section published on their website, Total Developments is proposing to submit a “full” planning application for around 36,000 sq m of employment space and nine employment units. TD said: “The proposed hire units will contain multiple loading docks and sufficient yard space to allow cars to be turned around. Parking for cars and vehicles will be provided in accordance with the best practice and parking standards adopted by the Council”.