Torus revises bid for fire-damaged Rock Ferry site
Wirral Council is due to accept the housing provider’s reduced offer of £1.2m, down from £2.1m, for the grade two-listed Ravenswood House after the building was damaged by fire in March.
The council concluded that the benefits of Torus Homes’ proposed redevelopment of the site into 186 homes outweigh the reduction in capital receipts, according to a council report.
Ravenswood House is part of the former Rock Ferry High School. Torus has planning permission for an 186-home scheme, comprising 102 extra care homes, 19 shared ownership homes and 65 homes for affordable rent.
The developer originally agreed to pay £2.1m to acquire the property to enable it to bring forward the proposed scheme, and appointed Anwyl as lead contractor earlier this year on a £25m contract.
Ravenswood House, listed in 2012, is the only structure left standing on the 20-acre site of the former Rock Ferry High School that was demolished in 2016. The building itself is due to be converted into eight extra care apartments under Torus’ proposals.
However, in March, around 20% of Ravenswood House was damaged by fire. The fire damage has resulted in an increase in refurbishment costs, prompting Torus to reduce its offer for the site.
The LCR appear not care about anywhere within a mile radius of Liverpool city centre. Unless it benefits Liverpool of course.
By Heswall
Thats some difference! £0.9m for a bit of fire damage?
By snoutsinthetrough
Not sure what the comments from Heswall has got to do with this article?. But looks like a high quality scheme
By George
Converting this once beautiful listed building into flats is sad loss. This building has always been a thorn in WBC’s plan for this controversial site; the powers-that-be attempted to have it de-listed to demolish it. And by the time the flats and houses are built, I doubt the listed house will be a visable feature.
As for the grand scheme, we live on the doorstep of this huge development, which was contested most strongly. Rock Ferry is already highly urbanised. Traffic conjestion is already a major issue, and plans to use the adjoining field for a car park (not raised at the original planning stage) is another blow to the area.
By Scout