A BATTLE to save the historic university building where John Lennon was a pupil began today.
John Moores university is selling four of its buildings in Hope Street to make way for a new £23m design academy.
But heritage and conservation officials have called on the vice chancellor to stop the sale of one of the buildings, 68 Hope Street, to allow proper consultation.
Andrew Pearce, chairman of Liverpool Heritage Forum and is personally concerned about the sale of the premises, said: "The artistic character of Liverpool will be severely damaged by the sale of this building.
"This is something which I believe will affect the city's reputation in a major way, particularly as we approach Capital of Culture year and the city's 700th birthday."
Mr Pearce added it would be a tragedy for the building to be turned into flats which is what has been proposed for the site.
The university's School of Art and Design, which also includes Hahnemann Building, 42 Hope Street, 2 Blackburne Place and Josephine Butler House, was one of the first to be built out-side of London.
Mr Pearce said: "This building in particular should be preserved and used as an example to show prospective students."
