PLANNING | Liverpool FC loses out as Copperas Hill deferred

Decisions on Liverpool John Moores University’s development at Copperas Hill and a 505-apartment scheme by Legacie were deferred pending a site visit, while Liverpool FC’s plans to host concerts and other sporting events at Anfield was rejected against officer recommendation at an eventful planning committee.

LJMU’s plans for its Student Life and Sports buildings at Copperas Hill, designed by Sheppard Robson, had been recommended for approval, but the committee decided to defer a decision pending a site visit after objections by neighbouring residents.

A decision on a 505-apartment scheme by Legacie in the Baltic Triangle was also deferred pending a site visit, which was put forward by Cllr Steve Munby.

Elsewhere, the committee went against officer recommendation to reject an application by Liverpool FC to host concerts and other sporting events – including rugby league and boxing – at its Anfield stadium.

Approved

North Western Hall

Developer: Marcus Worthington Group

Project value: £30m

Architect: Leach Rhodes Walker

Hotel rooms: 202

The developer outlined its plans the Sir Alfred Waterhouse-designed building earlier this year, and is aiming to fully refurbish the building to house a 202-bed hotel with a bar, restaurant, gym, and meetings rooms.

An international hotel operator has been lined up to take on the building subject to planning consent with an opening date set for 2020. The Victorian building was last used as a hotel in the 1930s and has been used as student accommodation for the last 22 years.

Worthington acquired the building from LJMU earlier this year.

Metalworks

Developer: Pumpfields Regeneration Company

Storeys: 13 and 15

Architect: Space Plus

The proposals are a revised version of Metalworks, pictured above, a residential scheme designed by Blok Architecture and granted planning permission in February last year. The site has been largely cleared, although the previous consent was never progressed.

The updated plans have added height to both blocks and the site bounded by Vauxhall Road, Freemason’s Row, and Gladstone Street now features 319 apartments along with 5,100 sq ft of commercial space at ground floor level.

Pumpfields Regeneration Company was the development arm of Blok Architecture, and is now a standalone company. A liquidator was appointed at Blok in November last year.

Land off Speke Hall Avenue

Developer: Peel

Masterplanner: Randall Thorpe

Homes: 185

Site: 13 acres

Peel’s application is for a site immediately north of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, an area formerly home to the Dunlop Sports & Social Club and Speke FC, which was disbanded in 2005.

Peel secured outline planning permission for the site in October 2017 and its reserved matters application was recommended for approval by planners.

The outline application’s Section 106 agreement included a £335,000 contribution to open space provision and £20,000 towards addressing highway capacity issues at the Speke Hall Avenue and Speke Boulevard junction.

Shipping container park, Toxteth

Developer: CanCo

Units: 14

Commercial space: 2,000 sq ft

The developer is proposing to build a London-style BoxPark at a site on Lodge Lane, Toxteth. This will feature 14 units of around 150 sq ft each set around a landscaped central courtyard at the site, which is bounded by Lodge Lane and Grierson Street.

The refurbished, insulated shipping containers will be targeted at local retailers and entrepreneurs.

Commenting on the committee’s decision, CanCo director Nathan Schreiber said: “Lodge Lane has a great buzz created by a unique mix of local retailers and we want our scheme to add to the buzz.

“Our focus will be on providing low-cost, easy-in, easy-out space for local and city-wide entrepreneurs whilst extending Lodge Lane’s prime pitch northwards.  We’ve had some great input from local councillors and want to thank them for being so constructive.”

Deferred

Greenland Street

Developer: Legacie

Architect: Falconer Chester Hall

Storeys: 18, 12, 10, 8

Apartments: 505

Commercial units: 12

Legacie’s proposals are for a plot bordering Greenland Street, Parliament Street, and Great George Street, an feature a mix of 91 studios, 196 one-beds, 210 two-beds, and eight three-beds.

The four blocks are split between eight and 18 storeys, and will also feature roof terraces on the second and seventh floors along with a spa and facilities for residents. Around 80 car parking spaces and 404 cycle parking spaces are planned, accessed from Crump Street.

There are also 12 commercial units in the proposals providing more than 21,000 sq ft of space in total.

A decision was deferred pending a site visit.

Student Life & Sports buildings, Copperas Hill

Developer: Liverpool John Moores University

Project value: £64m

Architect: Sheppard Robson

Planner: Barton Willmore

LJMU’s second attempt at development at the former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill was recommended for approval. However, a decision was deferred pending a site visit by committee members.

The Student Life Building will sit on the corner of Copperas Walk and Skelhorne Street, and will include a student advice and wellbeing centre; career advisory services; a student union; and common learning space.

Meanwhile, the Sports Building will be split over two and three storeys in height, and will house an eight-court sports hall; three multi-purpose halls; a gym; and associated facilities.

Initial plans for a £70m refurbishment of the sorting office were first put forward in 2014, and contractor Lendlease was brought on board to deliver a multi-use student facility, designed by BDP.

However, costs rose to £100m between 2014 and 2015, and work halted on the 280,000 sq ft building in late 2016. This led to a change in professional team with Lendlease no longer involved with the project.

The sorting office was demolished last year and the site has now been fully cleared.

Rejected

Liverpool FC, Anfield

The football club’s proposals to host up to 10 music concerts or other major events, as well as other sporting activities, was rejected despite the officers’ recommendation to approve, and was met with opposition from a number of councillors.

Liverpool FC had applied to vary planning conditions to allow it to host other sports including American football, rugby league and union games, and international football fixtures.

The club also asked for permission to host up to 10 concerts or events – including boxing – per year outside the football season. These were to take place between May and June each year before the stadium’s pitch would be re-laid, although the club said it would be “unlikely” the full 10 events would take place.

The capacity would have been between 47,000 and 50,000 people for music concerts with a stage at one side of the stadium, while events with a central stage, such as boxing, would have had a capacity of around 60,000 people. The club’s main stand was extended in 2016.