Sovini loses appeal over resi near Pilkington HQ

Proximity to the grade two-listed glass manufacturer’s former head office proved to be the project’s downfall, with the Planning Inspectorate siding with St Helens Council over its refusal of 64 affordable homes.

Sovini Group had sought permission to construct 36 houses and 28 flats, all of which would be designated as affordable. These would have been built on five acres off Prescot Road in St Helens, neighbouring the former Pilkington headquarters and its park and garden. Both the building and its park are grade two-listed.

St Helens had rejected the application in May last year, citing four reasons: the impact on flood risk, biodiversity, woodland, and the heritage Pilkington HQ structures.

Of those four, the council opted to not defend three at the appeal – letting the inspector focus on the heritage impacts alone.

Inspector Andrew Smith wrote in his decision letter that the plan would – regardless of how it was finished or treated – “disrupt the carefully designed landscape, and modify how it would be experienced in specific viewpoints”.

The apartment blocks would also “materially erode the openness and unfettered nature of the backdrop that present prevails I key lakeside views”.

Therefore, he moved to dismiss the appeal.

Sovini had been working on the project alongside planner Peacock + Smith, Condy Lofthouse Architects, Garry Miller Associates, Eddisons, AJP, We Know Services, and Mulberry.

To learn more about the application search P/2022/0313FUL on St Helen’s planning portal. For more on the appeal, use the code

APP/H4315/W/23/3332405 on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.