Birkdale care village granted permission

Mosaic Town Planning has successfully appealed against Sefton Council’s refusal of a specialist care village for up to 104 people in Birkdale, on behalf of community care operator Belong.

A Government planning inspector found that the character and appearance of the West Birkdale Conservation Area which surrounds the application site would be preserved, and dismissed the council’s concerns regarding the proposal’s impact on local heritage assets.

The site in West Birkdale was previously occupied by a school for the blind.

Pozzoni Architects designed the three- and four-storey building.

Leon Armstrong, associate of Mosaic Town Planning, said: “We are pleased that the inspector has acknowledged the contribution this community care village will make to the surrounding conservation area. The site has been vacant for some time and has become a blot on the local landscape. We believe that a Belong village is well suited to the location and can help to provide numerous benefits to those with care needs and the local community.”

Belong aims to make a start on site by the end of the year.