After years of inactivity, a major Liverpool city centre housing scheme is set to commence construction works in the next few weeks. The newly named Abbey Row development - formerly known as the Islington Quarter - plans to deliver hundreds of new homes, advancing a proposal submitted to Liverpool City Council in 2018.
Site and history
Abbey Row is a residential project located between London Road and the Islington carriageway, with the site split by Gildart Street. Since the original developer stopped preparatory work five years ago, the land has lain disused and vacant, becoming one of the city's most prominent stalled developments.
In 2017, YPG Group revealed plans to build several apartment blocks on Gildart Street in Islington's Fabric District. The scheme, then called Fabric Village, stalled in 2021 when two YPG Group companies went into administration.
New ownership and progress
The YPG-affiliated company tasked with developing the site was rescued from administration in 2023 and acquired by Mellior Group. Over the last three years, little changed on one side of the site, but last year an old glass and glazing warehouse was demolished as part of the original plans.
The new developer is London-based investor Bentry Capital, which incorporated Mellior Group as its in-house construction arm in late 2025. This vehicle hopes to deliver more than 1,000 new homes in Liverpool and other locations across the country in the next two years.
Construction timeline and sales
The ECHO understands that Mellior Construction had a 'positive meeting' with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) last week, and subject to formal approval, expects to commence construction in the last financial quarter of 2026. Phase 1 will deliver 241 new homes, with more than 70% of the units pre-sold through estate agent partners.
The Abbey Row scheme includes a concierge service, residents' gym, private cinema, co-working lounge, rooftop terrace, landscaped communal spaces, and integrated retail.
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Bentry Capital, Amarveer Singh Pannu, told the ECHO: "Abbey Row is a landmark development for Liverpool, and we're pleased with the progress being made as we move towards the next phase of delivery. We are currently working through the final regulatory comments with the BSR and, subject to formal approval, expect construction to commence at the start of Q4 this year by our in-house contractor, Mellior Construction. Buyer demand has remained exceptionally strong, with over 70% of Phase 1 (241 homes) already pre-sold through Elite Realty Invest, with Savills now also appointed to support sales. We remain on track for Phase 1 completions in 2028 and look forward to delivering a high-quality new neighbourhood that will make a lasting contribution to Liverpool's continued regeneration."
