Projects in Practice: The Drapery | News

Redwing and M&Y Maintenance and Construction have a long-established working relationship providing seamless property development and management — from initial design and marketing, to lettings, property management and maintenance. Let's take a dive into the archives and see how together, we put project into practice at The Drapery, Liverpool. 

The project: 

Name: The Drapery

Contract Value: £2.2m

Size: 24 studio, one and two bedroom apartments

Tenure: Build to Rent

Location: Liverpool City Centre

The Brief:

M&Y Maintenance and Construction to complete a full retrofit of the 200 year old property, turning this neglected space into 24 contemporary and energy efficient apartments for private rent, while retaining elements of the building’s original architecture.

Redwing to create a brand for the development that draws on the story of London Road, a historic street for Liverpool’s leading textile industry within the Fabric District.

Redwing to provide a seamless experience from sign up, to move in and beyond, letting homes pre-handover to reduce void loss, supporting tenants, and effectively managing the building to ensure tenant satisfaction.  

M&Y Maintenance and Construction to deliver responsive repairs and maintenance services for the building going forward.

Outcomes of the partnership:

The Build:

M&Y Maintenance and Construction completed a full retrofit of the property, making changes to the internal structure and layout while still retaining parts of its period architecture. The building was fitted with LED lighting, electric heating and internal wall insulation throughout, to reduce bills for residents and improve the buildings carbon footprint. Many of the apartments now have an EPC rating C(meeting the Government’s target of EPC C or above by 2030), include modern finishes and retain historic features throughout - providing 24 stylish and contemporary apartments in the heart of Liverpool City Centre. 

Susie, The Drapery resident said: “I thought The Drapery was amazing! The way it was designed went past my expectations, the light made it feel so warm and welcoming – the staff added to that too, they were all so kind! Being located steps away from Liverpool One was a great plus for me, never mind it being in the midst of a foodies paradise!”

The Marketing:

Redwing brought the development to life with the creation of a unique name and brand: The Drapery. Inspired by the building’s rich history and its location on London Road – a historic street for Liverpool’s leading textile industry. Marketing assets were designed in the striking branding, complementing the historic charm and modern design of the refurbished apartments. Materials included brochures and online ads to generate interest, along with resident communications such as Welcome Packs and Home User Guides for a smooth move-in experience.

The Lettings:

Redwing arranged a viewing day at the development mid-refurbishment, allowing customers to take a look around a fully decorated show apartment — giving a glimpse of life at their new home! The Lettings team also introduced a special offer to maximise reservations at the viewing day, including a £50 welcome home voucher, free for residents to spend on their first grocery shop or new home essentials. All the hard work paid off - with 90% of homes reserved pre-handover! 

After taking deposits and conducting eligibility and reference checks, the Lettings team arranged back-to-back move-in appointments to welcome residents into their new homes. These appointments gave the team the opportunity to give ‘how-to’ demonstrations and introduce residents to their new neighbours. 

Paula Davies, Lettings Manager at Redwing said: “We knew these apartments would be an extremely popular addition to the lettings market, and it shows in our 90% off-plan reservation rate! We had an amazing day meeting all our new residents at move in day, helping them settle in just in time for Christmas such a memorable moment!”

The Property Management:

From move-in to present day, Redwing's Property Management team is there every step of the way to support tenants and manage the building. From day-to-day repairs and rent collection to providing a caretaker service and hosting resident meetings, we ensure our residents are happy and feel at home from day one.

The Maintenance:

M&Y provide a repairs and maintenance service at The Drapery covering repairs and communal cleaning (and who better, they know the building inside out!) M&Y provides a wraparound service to ensure life runs smoothly for residents, including 24/7 emergency repairs.

This project demonstrates the power of collaboration, from concept to completion. From construction and branding to property management and construction, Redwing and M&Y Maintenance and Construction ensure every detail is covered to deliver a seamless experience for both partners and residents.

If you're looking for a partner to bring your next property vision to life, get in touch at partners@redwing.co.uk or newbusiness@my-maintenance.co.uk to get started — let's go for a coffee!