The Keel is located at Queen’s Dock, a private quay in Liverpool, and has been recognised as the number one rental development in the city. Sitting within the old HMRC building on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, this build-to-rent destination offers a balance between community, waterside serenity and the thrill of inner-city living for the North West’s young professionals.

JS+P were appointed by Allsop Letting and Management to relaunch this exciting 240 apartment rental destination as well as reduce the building’s carbon foot print, firmly establishing this legacy building as Liverpool’s most desirable Build to Rent development.

The methodical reconfiguration of the arrival experience at The Keel optimises the spatial layout by relocating the existing bin store to an external position. In its place, a state-of-the-art co-working lounge has been introduced. This strategic intervention allows the management team to operate the space as a business lounge during the day, which seamlessly transforms into an events venue in the evening – providing residents with a premium, flexible environment for both work and relaxation.

The previously underutilised draft lobby has been reimagined as a compact Zoom Room, a dedicated space for meetings and focused work, offering residents a functional alternative to working within their apartment walls and further enhancing the amenity offer.

To optimise the entrance experience, the post boxes were relocated to a more discreet location at the rear of the space, activating the courtyard circulation route while freeing up the arrival area for more purposeful uses. This enabled the creation of a relaxed yet energetic open-plan environment adjacent to reception, featuring a variety of settings including booth seating, lounge areas, and high workstations.

This spatial diversity, combined with its proximity to the concierge, fosters everyday interactions between residents and staff, strengthening the sense of community for which The Keel has become widely recognised and awarded.