Approval secured for 237 beds in Liverpool
Molyneux Developments got the green light for its 99-bed student accommodation project at Gildart Street, as did Sinergy’s bid to complete a 138-home project that stalled after a fire in January.
Liverpool City Council voted on both schemes during its planning committee meeting on Tuesday. The decisions were in line with officer recommendation.
Gildart Street
- Application reference number: 23F/3075
A proposal from Molyneux Developments to construct a £12m, 99-bed student block in the Fabric District of the Knowledge Quarter was approved unanimously.
The seven-storey purpose-built student accommodation building will provide a gym, study spaces, a reception, and a roof terrace.
Plans are for 14 studios and 85 bedrooms organised in clusters. Each cluster will consist of groups of between nine and 10 student bedrooms, with a communal kitchen and lounge space.
There will be basement storage for up to 116 bicycles.
A 1,750 sq ft self-contained commercial unit on the ground floor is also part of the development.
Work on the build is expected to be complex, Alex Fairhurst, managing director of AJF Engineering Consultants commented: “General logistics and materials storage will need to be meticulously planned and coordinated to avoid disruptions, and to allow the project to run smoothly.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Kevin Odger of Molyneux Developments added: “My thanks go to Liverpool council for their guidance throughout the application process.
“We’ve sought to work collaboratively, and today’s approval is evidence of that working.”
Before works scheduled for early 2025 begin, a former textile warehouse on the site will be demolished.
Construction is expected to take at least 24 months.
The project’s planning consultant was Baltic Planning and Development, while the plans were designed by Revival Architect.
The wider Fox Street Village scheme has been stalled since 2019. Block D was damaged in a fire in January. Credit: Google Earth
Land southeast of 50-56 Fox Street
- Application reference number: 21F/1699
An application from Sinergy to retain and complete works on 138 homes at Fox Street Village’s Block D has been approved.
The five-storey C-shaped block will also host 1,500 sq ft of commercial space on its ground floor.
Four councillors voted in favour of the decision, while two voted against.
A basement floor will contain four two-bed flats, and the ground floor will have 18 two-bed flats, two single-bed homes, and two studios.
The remaining four floors will each contain 28 homes – a mix of 20 two-beds, six studios, and two single-bed flats.
There will be 34 provided car parking spaces, and landscaping works will also be undertaken.
The exterior of Block D was completed before the original developer Primesite’s administration in 2019, and was then damaged by a fire in January.
Liverpool on track to lose what little soul it has left. Watch this space.
By Anonymous
Not sure about the commercial space in Fox Street but both schemes generally good news for Liverpool. A real chance for the city over the next view years to accelerate delivery around the city centre if it works with some imagination with all partners.
By Anonymous
Why would 2 councillors vote against something that is already there and needs replenishing?
By Baffled
Good outcomes then on both of these schemes so let’s hope they progress.
Re the Fox St scheme you would wonder why 2 councillors voted against acceptance as the plans were originally for 9 floors and this was reduced to 6.
It shows there are still elements on the planning committee who are anti development, and don’t seem to realise that homes are badly needed within the city and throughout the UK.
By Anonymous
Another one for the student ghetto sorry I mean “fabric district”
By Anonymous
Student accommodation is needed in Liverpool but in the right place, and this is the right place as its right next to the uni and will help support local shops and vibrancy. Question is, where are the other planning applications in the system and why are they not being pushed through quicker.
By GetItBuilt!
Good news for Liverpool… lets hope more residential & student schemes get approved soon, as the city is desperate for development!
By Anonymous
Omg this is stunning
By Anonymous
there seems to be a lot of just student build around there not contributing to active frontage or creating footfall – a mix of homes. The Fabric District needs much more planning than student schemes in isolation! Needs footfall – there are other stakeholders in the area who need homes and amenities – including those working at Royal Hospital, School of Tropical Medicine, Paddington Village etc. I think there needs to be a mix – we will never match our European counterparties if we don’t have a mix. Some of these stakeholders working at School of Tropical Medicine etc are from overseas and would like to live close to work/to the centre but not in a one bed studio with a bike rack.
By Bob Dawson
@Bob Dawson – other types of housing and occupiers… like the circa 400 apartments being built by Mellior next door to this site? None of that includes student accommodation. It also includes ground floor retail units with active frontages. There’s also the apartment scheme on the Kempston Street car park over the road that is just standard apartments, including affordable housing, and ground floor retail units. Yes there is a lot of student accommodation in this area, and rightly so, but it is not the only type of development happening here.
By Anonymous
@ Bob 12.57pm and others, is anyone else putting schemes forward for anything other than student accommodation . This area is ideall for students but maybe a developer could be persuaded to provide 2/3 bedroom flats.
One thing’s for sure it’s not the environment for houses.
By Anonymous
Good we need more building sites to be active as the work is next to none at the minute
By Anonymous
Fantastic news. This part of Liverpool has been run down for over 30 years now. Its great to see it finally being regenerated.
By LordLiverpool
Bob Dawson should put his money where is mouth is!
Instead of criticising the development of this neglected area of Gildart Street by New investor. He should support the investment of the entire site from Moss Street to Norton Street – Islington to London Road. In the 1960’s this area had everything cinemas shops, homes, pubs, with a vibrant catchment of residents and shoppers.
Come on Bob, spend your pennies,
By Anonymous
Excellent. Get em built.
By DenseCity