Unanimous approval for 401-home Metalworks in Liverpool
The decision will allow Jarron Developments to build the 16-storey scheme on the corner of Vauxhall Road and Leeds Street.
Liverpool City Council’s planning committee passed the application unanimously, with the only pushback due to concerns about the lack of light in some of the courtyard-facing apartments.
Known as Metalworks, the H-shaped building designed by Falconer Chester Hall will host a total of 401 homes, offering in a mix of 396 flats and five townhouses on a plot slightly larger than a half-acre.
Cllr Joe Hanson, chair of the neighbourhoods select committee, said: “This area is crying out for development”, and that “refusal would send the wrong message to developers looking at Liverpool as an area to invest”.
Cllr Tricia O’Brien, added: “A development like this is going to fill a need within the market for people who only want to rent in the interim.
“We really do need to see Liverpool come alive again, especially near the waterfront.”
The scheme will rise 16 storeys to meet the height of nearby project The Gateway. Credit: FCH
Before construction can commence, a former public house will be demolished.
The Pumpfields development will provide 177 one-bed, 218 two-bed, and six three-bed homes, and will match the height of Legacie’s The Gateway scheme, which sits alongside the site.
The top floor of the development will sport a Layer.studio-designed rooftop garden, encircled by a running track, a first for Liverpool.
Plans also include a 1,300 sq ft resident’s gym in the east wing block and a cinema room, workspace, and lounge.
The west wing would host a 2,500 sq ft ground floor commercial unit with an internal mezzanine for use as either a retail or an F&B offer.
Parking spaces for 53 vehicles will be provided. All apartments will benefit from Juliet balconies.
The build-to-rent scheme is expected to lead to £110m of inward investment into Liverpool, according to the applicant.
Will Clarke, development director at Jarron Developments, said: “This location is the perfect setting for the Metalworks development, which will be a landmark project for the city. It will provide exceptional living standards, with unmatched access to work, leisure, and transport options.
“We are excited to see the scheme move forward and contribute to the ongoing success and growth of Liverpool.”
Martin Haymes, associate director at Falconer Chester Hall, added: “This scheme will play a key role in the transformation of Pumpfields, providing much-needed homes and high-quality public spaces while respecting the area’s industrial past.
“We look forward to bringing this exciting project to life.”
The ground floor will have a commercial unit and a mezzanine floor. Credit: FCH
The Metalworks scheme was acquired by Gladstone Street, an SPV of Jarron, in 2023 when it had a £1.7m bid for the plot accepted from the previous developer, Pumpfields Regeneration Company after it fell into administration in 2021.
On the project team are Edge Consulting, ALT, Curtins, Proximity, E3P, and GIA. Turley was the planning consultant.
To view the application, use the reference number 24F/0059 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
