Overview

Vortex House was one of six vacant LocatED sites used to support the government’s Covid response during the 2020 pandemic. This building became a training facility for 1,500 nurses. This was one of two “meanwhile uses” for the property found by the Asset Management team.

Located in Liverpool, Vortex House was left vacant following the closure of the Studio Deyes school. Understanding the DfE would require vacant possession at some stage, the Asset Management team sought flexible solutions. Following LocatED’s successful, revenue-generating management, the redeveloped building opened in phases as the Kings Leadership Phoenix Academy during 2024 and 2025.

Challenge

Whilst the future use of the property was being considered, the LocatED Asset Management team was commissioned to secure and manage the vacant property. After two years, the DfE required vacant possession of the building for immediate redevelopment.

Solution

To mitigate the cost and risk of leaving the property vacant for an extended period, the LocatED Asset Management team identified several “meanwhile uses” for the building. Initially, the NHS occupied part of the building to support the government’s Covid response, training over 1,500 nurses at the facility.

Additionally, a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme was identified to occupy the remaining space in the building. These occupiers were consolidated under a formal lease that included the flexibility of a break clause to allow the DfE to regain vacant possession if the property was later required for educational use.

After nearly two years, LocatED was commissioned to secure vacant possession of the property to allow it to be re-used to accommodate the Kings Leadership Phoenix Academy. To meet the DfE’s aggressive timeline, LocatED not only triggered the break clause but also negotiated an early surrender of the lease. To accelerate delivery further, LocatED also engaged its facilities management contractor, Vinci FM, to deliver both Phase 1 and Phase 2 redevelopment packages as a more expedient alternative to traditional procurement routes.

Impact

These initiatives enabled a vacant government property to be brought back into service on a “meanwhile use”, supporting the delivery of public services and, in particular, the government’s Covid response. This approach prevented potential adverse possession issues that can arise with vacant properties and avoided significant holding costs including business rates, utilities, security, and maintenance, together estimated at approximately £400,000.

Further, the flexible lease structure negotiated by LocatED ensured the property could be returned to educational use when required. Combined with an alternative delivery route for the refurbishment works, this approach allowed the new school to be completed on a phased basis and successfully opened within an exceptionally challenging timeline.