Liverpool waves through pair of Alder Hey schemes
Step Places has secured consent for its 248-home redevelopment of the old hospital site, and a three-storey extension to the existing facility has also been given the go-ahead.
Springfield Gardens
The scheme features 12 apartments for people with autism. Credit: CGI by Our Studio
Developer: Step Places
Architect: BDP
Planner: Gerald Eve
Developer Step Places wants to create a mixed-use community on the former Alder Hey Hospital site in Knotty Ash.
The scheme features 248 homes for a range of different occupiers on a 6.4-acre site off Eaton Road.
The site was occupied by Alder Hey Hospital before its relocation to nearby Springfield Park in 2015.
The old hospital buildings were demolished and Step Places was appointed to redevelop the site in 2019, following a competition run by Alder Hey Hospital Trust.
Step Places’ scheme, designed by BDP, is laid out over nine plots.
- Plot one: A quartet of three-to-five-storey apartment blocks comprising 102 properties, with around 10,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor and 66 additional studio flats for NHS staff
- Plot two: A 52,000 sq ft NHS Trust office building
- Plot three: Eight townhouses
- Plot four: 12 apartments for people with autism
- Plot five: Six townhouses
- Plot six: Nine townhouses
- Plot seven: Nine townhouses
- Plot eight: Nine townhouses
- Plot nine: 27 retirement apartments
Civic Engineers, WSP, McKee Associates, RJD Associates, SK Transport, Anderson Associate and RBA make up the project team.
The proposals have proven controversial with some Knotty Ash residents. A petition to block the project has garnered more than 2,000 signatures at the time of writing.
The objectors claim that they had been promised that the former hospital site would be redeveloped into a park.
However, Liverpool City Council approved the scheme in line with officers’ recommendations.
Step Places is to pay £182,000 towards public space improvements in the area as a condition of the approval.
Alder Hey extension
The building would connect to the hospital’s existing A&E department. Credit: via planning documents
Developer: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Architect: Gilling Dod Architects
A neo-natal intensive care unit, relocated emergency decisions unit, and a paediatric assessment unit feature within the 32,700 sq ft extension.
The three-storey building would be built on a surface level car park, connecting to the Alder Hey Hospital’s existing A&E department.
The car park is to be moved to the northern side of the blue light access road. There, a surface car park is proposed for 27 vehicles including 4 disabled bays, a reduction of nine spaces compared to the existing provision.
Featuring a green cladding system, the building also has coloured window surrounds, which are found throughout the hospital site.
As stated previously on this subject, disgraceful by Liverpool Cory council and their planning department, this is not what was promised when the land was used to build a new hospital! Lies lies lies! Total disregard for the local communities of Knotty Ash and West Derby, less green space and more congestion. It was preordained this would happen!
By Anonymous
Great to see this long awaited development, plenty of green space as promised and quality homes . The city needs this type of development glad the council understand this and rejected the nimbly opposition
By George
Really great news – will be a great addition to the area and the north! Stop moaning
By Yes
The area was promised to return to a park once the hospital demolished. This use have been said to keep protesters, against housing, happy. Once again it’s money that is important. This area is already over burdened with traffic. Schools fit to bursting. Impossible to get Dr. Appt. This is why people just take their children to A/E at alder Hey, no docs appt. It will get worse. Houses also going up at melwood. Please please all I want to do is go for shopping, it sometimes takes ages getting through West Derby Village. More flats on Mill Lane. Advertising village life. Oh please, its a through route now.
By Sblackburn
I live on Blackmoor Drive and it is already a nightmare to get off my property. More housing means more traffic. It’s ok for people that don’t live near by to say we are moaners but how would they like it if they were promised one thing then got another but as stated previously it’s all about the money honey!!!
By Ann
LOL at the comments here assuming everybody has to always drive everywhere. Get the 12. Bike on the ralla. Walk.
Or move.
By Bus
This area is a nightmare to pass through, the idea of more properties will definitely add to congestion.
The Council have mislead people on their long term plans and cannot be trusted.
The only thing left is Government intervention as to road safety and volume of traffic.
By Patc3238@gmail.com
The overall plan leaves a much larger and more accessible park than was there previously. The new buildings are predictably a bit banal, but by going upwards rather than outwards, they’ve given the community extra green space – green space, moreover, which can be accessed from Prescott Road, Eaton Road and Alder Road. All in all, this should be welcomed.
By Moomo
The people of West Derby / Knotty Ash have been decieved by Alder Hey and our local council. Shame on the lot of you for allowing this out of place monstrosity to be approved. Never Trust the NHS, LCC or Labour in this city. All absolutly disgraceful.
By Concerned West Deby Resident