Unanimous approval for 416 Liverpool flats
A mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments spread out across four nine-storey blocks off Blackstock Street was given the go-ahead by the city council during today’s planning committee meeting.
Landowner WF Doyle Holdings now has the green light to construct the proposed apartment blocks, which will each have their own roof terrace and commercial space on the ground floor. These ground floor units would be suitable for use as shops, fitness studios, medical services, or a local community hub, according to a Liverpool City Council planning officer report.
WF Doyle has been trying to build on the site in Liverpool’s Pumpfields district since 2000. The initial vision was for 200 flats, which was approved at appeal. The proposals were later revised with a goal of 420 flats across four 10-storey blocks.
After consulting with the city council’s planning officers more changes were made. The heights were reduced by one storey and the ninth floors were levelled out to, in the words of planner Landor Planning, “now more resemble the [city’s] historic dock warehouses in profile”. Changes were also made to improve density of the scheme, the size of the apartments, and the ventilation and light provision.
The current plans, drawn up by Diaz Architects, account for 64 wheelchair accessible housing and 320 flats that meet the standard size for accessible homes. Only 32 apartments fall below the standard – these are the ones located next to the firefighting staircases and are just 20 sq ft short of the 540 sq ft required.
Of the 416 approved flats, 85 are to be designated affordable. Most of those – 68 – will be available for either affordable or social rent. The other 17 are set aside for shared equity.
The apartments will have basement parking, accessed from Blackstock Street. This will comprise of 168 spaces, including 16 wheelchair accessible space and 10 for electric vehicles. There will also be space for 16 motorcycles to park and for 476 cycles to be stored.
The approved plans also include the planting of 104 trees.
In addition to Diaz Architects and Landor Planning, the project team includes Aeon Archaeology, Orion Fire Engineering, DeltaSimons, Tyrer Ecological Consultants, Environmental Noise Solutions, WSP, and Vectos.
Learn more about the application by searching reference number 22F/3433 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
