Lawless appeals refusal of Liverpool flats

The rejected planning application had proposed building 105 apartments and 63 student homes at 180 Falkner Street, the site of the former Liverpool Community Probation Centre.

Now, Elliot Group’s Falkner Street Developments has filed an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to reverse Liverpool City Council’s decision. Final statements from Falkner Street Developments and the council are due 14 March.

Elliot Group was founded by Elliot Lawless, a developer that Merseyside Police questioned during Operation Aloft, an ongoing investigation into corruption related to land deals within Liverpool City Council. Lawless has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Lawless’s involvement in the 180 Falkner Street project resulted in protesters converging at the council’s planning committee meeting in April last year.

It was at that meeting that the council opted to reject the application against the recommendation of planning officers. Councillors objected to the proposals because of a lack of car parking and the impact on residential amenity that co-locating student and non-student housing would have.

The councillors also voiced opposition to Lawless. They were not swayed by arguments that the project was to be sold to the non-Lawless-affiliated Legacie Developments for delivery after planning permission was secured.

The city council confirmed its decision in May 2022.

At the time, Lawless said he had been advised that he had “a very strong case” for an appeal.

Zerum is the planner for the 180 Falkner Street development. Falcon Chester Hall is the architect. The project team also includes Clancy Consulting, Hydrock, DEP Landscape Architecture, and Wardell Armstrong.

The application’s reference number with Liverpool City Council is 19F/2515. The reference number for the appeal at the Planning Inspectorate is APP/Z4310/W/22/3309678.