BT to close Liverpool office, risking 600 local jobs

British Telecommunications (BT) has announced the closure of its Liverpool office on Old Hall Street, proposing to relocate about 601 employees—including BT Business staff, Openreach workers, 999 emergency call handlers and relay service staff—to sites in Manchester or Leeds. The company cites a sharp increase in lease renewal costs that would make remaining at the Liverpool site uneconomical after the contract expires in March.

Liverpool City Council and local politicians have condemned the plan, describing it as "redundancy by stealth." Council leader Liam Robinson, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and councillor Peter Norris joined a protest outside the office with the Communication Workers Union (CWU). They urged BT to pause the relocation, explore hybrid working options and keep a presence in the city, warning that the move would impose long‑distance commutes on staff and strip the local economy of specialised roles.

BT says it continues to engage with employees, unions and politicians while it finalises the restructuring.