Radio City signage to be taken down from landmark Liverpool tower

Top of St John’s tower has been vacant since radio station left in 2024

The iconic Radio City signage atop St John’s Beacon is to be taken down after more than 25 years. Since 2024, the top of the tower has stood vacant after the city’s famous radio station relocated following its rebrand to Hits Radio.

Rumours have swirled about a possible new future for the grade II listed 450ft tower with invitations being sought for even the most “wacky” ideas. While no permanent occupant has been decided upon for the beacon, one very significant change is likely to be made to the Liverpool skyline.

A bid has been lodged with Liverpool Council to take down the Radio City 96.7 signage that spans the side of the top of the building for it to be replaced by a new animated LED screen. A heritage statement attached to the application submitted to city planners said this would “improve the visual quality of the signage as visible both during the day and in darkness.”

Built with the precinct at ground floor level, construction began on St John’s Beacon 60 years ago as a ventilation flue for its heating system. With its 10m long antenna, the tower is still the tallest structure in Liverpool if its rooftop structures are included.

Permission was granted for the station signage to be put up in 1999 and was completed in 2000. According to the heritage statement, the historic LED display has outlived its stay.

It said: “St John’s Beacon is continuing to be used to advertise a business that is no longer resident, and which retains no relationship with the building. This also confuses its own identity, giving the incorrect impression that it continues to be occupied by and part of the radio station.”

It is therefore proposed that a new LED signing band replace the lettering in the same position. No other external modifications are proposed to be made to the beacon or the tower.

Heritage assessments by Donald Insall Associates said upgrading the signage would provide a “slight enhancement, improving the building’s appearance by removing detracting illuminated signage dating from 2000 and now outdated in character and quality and replacing this with attractive lighting with a high-quality, more contemporary, character.”

It is said the new proposed signage is “sensitively signed, of a high quality and enhances and improves the building’s existing townscape role and prominence as a landmark and an illuminated feature in the skyline.”

A date has yet to be confirmed for the plans to go before Liverpool Council’s planning committee for a final decision.