Liverpool loses Vauxhall resi appeal
Kersh Worral Commercial has secured approval for 39 houses and 29 flats on the former Elaine Norris Centre on Vauxhall Road.
Liverpool City Council failed to determine the planning application within the statutory timescale, prompting Kersh Worral to appeal.
The city council said that had it made a decision, it would have refused the residential scheme due to concerns about a lack of affordable housing, the lack of open space provision, and the lack of biodiversity net gain.
In considering the appeal, planning inspector F Rafiq said the scheme would “not cause unacceptable harm to biodiversity and not have a harmful effect on open space provision”.
On the affordable homes point, Rafiq said the appraisal provided by Kersh Worral – which states the provision of discounted properties would make the scheme unviable – was sound.
The developer first lodged plans for the project in 2021.
Liverpool City Council planning officers recommended the scheme be approved in December 2022 but the authority’s planning committee deferred a decision so that a site visit could take place.
Last year, Kersh Worral urged the city council to carry out the long-awaited site visit and approve the scheme to avoid an appeal.
Rafiq said Liverpool City Council had not acted unreasonably and therefore will not have to pay the appellant’s costs.
Interesting, LCC must be more open to applications based on their merit and not to be overly influenced by local interests and councillors seeking brownie points
By Liverpool4Progress
Scandalous and unprofessional behaviour from LCC , its shameful they can get away with this , over a year to arrange a site visit , playing the bio diversity card ? they are a collective of amateurs bring discredit to the city.
By Paul
That’s in Vauxhall, not Kirkdale.
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous. Thanks for flagging, I have amended the story. Thanks
By Dan Whelan
We would have turned it down. Even though the professionals said it was perfectly acceptable!?
Embarrassing.
Also Liverpool famously sold a street of houses for £1 a few years ago. There’s plenty of cheap rubbish houses in Liverpool. Don’t try make the developers build more.
By Anonymous
Aha, an another example of the clots in control of the Liverpool City Council. Wheel tappers, bottle washers and chimney sweeps, Their own city planners approved the scheme yet the council planning committee defer a decision.
Social housing indeed, the entire site is built on the former Tate and Lyle site. Known as Eldonian Project welcomed by Prince Charles as a modern scheme to rehouse the local people in affordable rental housing.
The houses for sale would be a great boost to the entire estate and local residents.
Typical potherbs once again, huffing and puffing our they benefit our Liverpool. Perhaps they could build a local doss house and call it
“champion waiths”
Bah Humbug
By Anonymous
Some of the comments about LCC’s behaviour with this proposal might be unaware of how this application and subsequent appeal ever came to be. Anyone familiar with the sorry saga of the Eldonian Village in recent years knows where this one is coming from.
By J McGrath
LCC aren’t always the baddies
By Anonymous
According to local reports all is not well within the Eldonian community. This site has been a disputed one and the influence of certain parties has upset the equilibrium of the community there.
Very sad.
By Just saying
Rafiq does not blame the City Council, but who caused the delay? Wasn’t it the councillors on the committee who are acting on behalf of the council?
Whatever, this is a positive outcome albeit 3 years later, and though it’s not the best looking scheme it will blend in with the underwhelming design of the Eldonian Village.
By Anonymous
Kirkdale?
By Dave Downey
Sorry for my earlier comments I confused this with another site.
I really hope the residents of the Eldonian community can find peace and security in their homes.
By Liverpool4Progress