GALLERY | Andrew Gibson House conversion set to go ahead
Wirral’s derelict Andrew Gibson House, a former care home for widows of seafarers, is set to be transformed into 34 homes while three apartment blocks are to be built on an adjacent plot under proposals designed by architect Space Plus.
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The Edwardian Andrew Gibson House, completed in 1906, has been left derelict for more than 10 years and has been threatened with demolition after it was found to no longer meet the requirements of its residents.
Demolition had been proposed, but a petition brought forward by Save Britain’s Heritage garnered nearly 6,000 signatures.
The building’s owner the Nautilus Welfare Fund, along with developer Prospect Capital, is now looking to bring forward a residential project which will see the existing building converted into 34 apartments.
Along with the conversion, there are also plans for three apartment blocks: a 26-unit block for the Nautilus Welfare Fund; and two residential blocks. The largest of these stands at four storeys and comprises 61 apartments, while a three-storey apartment block will also house 11 apartments.
There are also to be four houses on the site, one of which will be converted from an existing lodge building. The 26-apartment block will be run by the Nautilus Welfare Fund as specialist accommodation and is counted as affordable housing.
An appraisal submitted by the developer has also suggested any reduction in the number of apartments across the site would make the scheme unviable.
Some of the land on the site, which is next to the River Mersey promenade and Mariners Park, is owned by Wirral Council, which has worked with applicants through pre-application and planning application stage. Indigo is acting as planning consultant for the developer.
Council planning officers have now signalled their backing to the scheme, recommending it for approval when Wirral’s planning committee meets next week. A condition has been put forward to make sure the renovation of Andrew Gibson House is carried out before any new development.
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The views from the balconies on these apartments are going to be amazing, it’s a great development this.
By Anonymous
Beach views.
By Anonymous
This is part of Liverpool/Wirral’s joint maritime heritage. So pleased to see this come forward. We need to link all these areas together better. Great walks from Seacombe ferry to New Brighton along here but long term we need a light railway linking the docklands and the prom at Egremont to New Brighton! The Sailor’s Home in Liverpool was sadly lost after the war; only the gates remain outside John Lewis. Good on Wirral Council for pushing this one forward.
By Roscoe
Very pleasing to see this building remain and renovated, it is a lasting monument to the seafarers who lost their lives in serving our country and the families they left behind or who needed support in their later years. A sadly often forgotten part of our community whose sterling work in supplying the essentials we need often went unnoticed unrewarded.
By Liverpolitis
Am from Liverpool and very pleased to see this building being brought back to life part of our heritage.
GREAT NEWS
By Sam
Excellent news – well overdue for such a superb building
By Simon Fullard
Great to see this bit of Wallasey’s heritage given a new life and the new-build looks interesting too.
By Mark
Great news for great building but flats dont look much in keeping with rest of building on promanard x
By Lorraine keogh
Great news for the area, so pleased the building is being saved.
By Jill
A stunning building with a massive amount of heritage – here’s hoping they agree to sensible phasing with Gibson House getting the makeover and refurbishment it deserves first with future phases and units to follow.
By Anon