LJMU ditches IM Marsh housing plan

Liverpool John Moores University is to retain the site in Mossley Hill, where proposals had been aired for up to 200 homes.

LJMU said that new plans for the site will be announced soon.

In June 2021 the university announced a pre-planning consultation, working with CBRE and Planit-IE on the project.

The IM Marsh site had previously housed sports facilities along with the university’s education, community and leisure faculties, but most of those operations moved to either the flagship Copperas Hill building or the new School of Education in Maryland Street in 2021.

However, the Marsh site does offer that rarest of urban and suburban commodities, green space.

LJMU said that consultation with interested parties and local stakeholders about the future of the site had shown that feedback has been positive about the university remaining in the locality.

Professor Mark Power, vice-chancellor and chief executive, said: “We made the right decision to move undergraduate teaching delivery away from Marsh, our students are much better served in the city centre.

“Having looked for alternative green space in the city, we know now that Marsh is a valuable asset for us and represents an exciting proposition for our future – our developing plans will be made public shortly.

“I want to thank everyone for their feedback and support during the consultation phase, your input has helped to shape our decision.”

The site includes five acres of open space, along with the listed Holmefield House and its gardens, both of which were always earmarked for retention.

There had been concern from local residents’ groups about the impact of new housing on the highways networks.