Crosby’s Central Buildings site primed for revamp

Developers Urban Generation Crosby and Penny Lane Builders, with housing association Plus Dane Housing, have submitted plans for the long-awaited redevelopment of the derelict town centre site north of Liverpool. 

The site used to house Crosby’s former Central Buildings, which were demolished in 2008, and has lain vacant for 13 years.

The application to Sefton Council proposes a four-storey development made up of 39 one- and two-bedroom apartments with retail units on the ground floor.  

The homes would be made available on affordable rental tenures, managed by Plus Dane Housing. 

Urban Generation Crosby is headed up by Michael Hanlon who is also listed as a director of Maghull Developments, the site’s former owner.

Maghull Developments was granted consent for a mixed-use scheme in 2006 but the project never came forward. 

Agencies Avison Young and Prime Retail marketed the site for sale last year at a guide price of £1m but a spokesperson for Avison Young said the firm was ultimately not involved in the sale and therefore it could provide no further information on the buyer. 

The architect for the latest project is Halsall Lloyd Partnership.