South Liverpool Homes takes a run at sticky Aigburth site
The housing association has lodged plans to redevelop a plot in the affluent suburb into 57 one- and two-bedroom flats, the fourth similar proposal to come forward on the site over recent years.
South Liverpool Homes wants to convert the Victoria villa at 34 Alexandra Drive into 17 social rent flats by making use of the existing grade two-listed structure and adding a three-storey extension.
The project also features a new-build 40-flat element fronting Aigburth Road and rising to five storeys.
To learn more, search for reference number 26F/0123 on Liverpool City Council’s planning porta.
Stantec is advising on planning and Falconer Chester Hall is the architect.
Angela Perry, SLH’s executive director of assets and neighbourhoods, said: “We are really excited about the plans for this development in Aigburth, which will provide much-needed homes in a highly desirable area.
“This project reflects our commitment to building quality homes across the wider south Liverpool area, giving our customers more choice and helping to meet the high demand for affordable housing. By transforming a disused site and restoring a historic building, we are creating a development that respects its surroundings while delivering modern, sustainable homes for the future.”
Places for People, Vinco Group, and Sovini have all been had a go at redeveloping the site before.
However, various residential schemes proposing anywhere from 57 to 76 in 2016, 2017, and 2021 never progressed.
Sovini’s proposal sought to demolish the villa. The scheme was rejected and the building, most recently a care home, was given listed status in 2022.
A good looking proposal how can they refuse, no doubt they’ll try and come up with a reason.
By Anonymous
Not the fault of SLH but this is a really good example of how many tricky issues with historic buildings sort themselves out when a building is left empty and then catches fire.
The important late-Victorian interiors were much of the point of the 2022 listing (ugly cobbled-together exterior) and were still in decent condition then; there’s now only burnt fragments after the 2024 arson attack.
Even so, given nobody has tried to get the listing removed, SLH could perhaps do a bit better with the remains beyond near total stripping out and hiding what’s left behind plasterboard even if wider restoration won’t be viable.
Probably the new-build and access off Aigburth Road will be the contentious point though…
By Anonymous
You got to wonder how this site was allowed to rot like that in the first place. It’s a blot on the landscape in what should be a desirable road on the edge of Sefton Park. LCC have a poor record on enforcement action though which no doubt will be the root of it. You can only hope that FCH’s designs are better than some of the stuff they’ve designed for Legacie etc. Raise the bar a little. It’s not very high – let’s be honest. Fingers crossed…
By Baltic Boy
Totally agree with @Baltic Boy LCC are happy for thousands of decent homes to be left to rot, even though we have a housing shortage and they are also missing out on tax revenue. Take a look further down Aigburth Road at Normanton Avenue, a long term vacant plot which could be developed for apartments and then the beautiful Victorian abandoned semi detached house next door – again this could be flats or a single home, instead its future is not looking great. Why does LCC allow the owners to have such contempt for the city and the immediate residents?
By GetItBuilt!
A great looking scheme in an area crying out for affordable housing
By Anonymous
Good scheme. Much needed in this area and bringing back to use a long-vacant site. No doubt, Historic England will object as always but please get this approved LCC!
By Anonymous