Kingsgate London Properties is converting a central Liverpool office block into a £17m boutique hotel and spa, to open by early 2010.

The developer, which currently owns the Iron Gate hotel in Prague, has appointed architect and historic building consultant Purcell Miller Tritton to work on the conversion of the former Royal Insurance Building, a seven storey Edwardian structure listed on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register.

The hotel will be owned and operated by Kingsgate London Properties’ subsidiary, Kingsgate Liverpool.

Plans for the site include a health spa in the basement area of the building, a restaurant, bar and suite of meeting rooms on the main floor and 90 bedrooms on the upper floors.

An addition to the upper floors that will incorporate extra bedrooms and panoramic views of the city is also proposed.

Extensive refurbishment and conservation work will be carried out during the restoration of the building, which has been in a state of disrepair.

“The former Royal Insurance Building is a very iconic building in Liverpool,” said Bev King, Kingsgate London Properties’ chief executive, adding that the name of the hotel would probably be a variation of its existing name.

“We are thrilled to be involved in the preliminary stage of such an exciting project in Liverpool whereby we can draw on considerable experience and expertise in the repair and conservation of sensitive buildings and deliver an excellent result,” said James Sanderson, who runs Purcell Miller Tritton’s Liverpool operation.