Westchurch bags consent for Liverpool affordable homes
The developer has been granted permission to build a 67-home development on land formerly occupied by the Elaine Norris Centre off Vauxhall Road.
Liverpool City Council’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the application, in line with officer recommendations. The application had garnered no objections throughout the planning process.
Westchurch Homes’ proposals, devised by MCK Architects, feature 13 one-bedroom cottage apartments and seven with two bedrooms.
There would also 47 houses: two three-bedroom residences, 44 three-bedroom homes, and one four-bedroom property.
The site was the subject of a previous application from Kersh Worral for 68 homes, which won an appeal in 2023 but was never advanced.
Pegasus is the planner for the project, while Tim Claxton Property led viability appraisals. These put the construction costs at around £15m for the project.
In addition to MCK, Pegasus, and Tim Claxton, the project team includes Highstone Group, Coopers, Redmore Environmental, E3P, CBO Transport, and Collington Winter.
To learn more about the scheme, search for application reference 25F/2526 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
Brings minimal density, won’t do anything to support what little is surving there, largely pointless development. Little surprise this one flew through without objections from the usual suspects.
By Anonymous
Unusual there were no objections to this scheme as the Eldonians are normally good at that. As stated the Council got their fingers burnt previously when they refused application 21f/0722, but the applicant appealed and won. The appeal document is a good read as the Inspector found fault with the bulk of the Council’s flimsy objections, no doubt under the cosh from the local nimbys, as well as persuading the Fire Service to lodge an objection. The Westchurch scheme is different to the previous one, and even though the designs aren’t the greatest it’s positive to see something proposed for this eyesore site.
By Anonymous
53 dwellings per hectare (if my maths is right) isn’t “minimal density” and seems appropriate on this site that transitions from the city centre fringe ‘Pumpfields’ area into the more suburban Eldonian Village neighbourhood
By Anonymous
They look dated before they’re even built!
By Anonymous
what a soulless bland design
By Anonymous
Really poor ambition. Just a few more suburban houses tacked on to the estate.
By Anonymous
@ Anon 4.09pm, the suburban appearance of Eldonian Village is the same error that has occurred in many of our inner city districts, that have been turned into bland, Brookside estates. Previously in this location places like Burlington St and Tatlock St were full of fine, solid, well designed tenements and handsome terraces, the place was teeming with life and atmosphere. No one has ruined Liverpool more than it’s own people who have allowed demolition , only for character to be replaced by soulless, suburban, semis.
By Anonymous
Very late 80s, and doesn’t take advantage of being canal side at all, not even patio doors for residents to enjoy the view. What a missed opportunity to make something really good. Affordable homes shouldn’t mean lower quality architecture. This area needs denser townhouses and apartment blocks which build up to the city centre.
By GetItBuilt!
The problem is that the Eldonian Village is an architecturally bland, low-density, suburban neighbourhood in the inner city.
The whole Vauxhall area should be designated as an extension of the city centre to the Stanley Dock.
As usual the city council has no ambition and no vision to redevelop the area properly to create a North Liverpool New Town of high-density housing and modern businesses.
It’s lack of ambition and competence means that it will always lose investment to its rival regional centres.
By Anonymous
Could have had at least twice the density with retail elements at the bottom but instead we get something from the 80s militant era. Can it be any surprise the Liverpool “new town” bid didn’t make the cut?
By Anonymous
This is about 5 minutes walk from the city centre! Terrible planning to build such low density, looks more suited to Kirkby or Halewood.
By Anonymous
The Head of Planning doesn’t seem to have any problems expanding this low-grade suburbia in what is essentially an inner city location.
She also doesn’t appear to be bothered about the appearance of those ground level shop to residential conversions along our main arterial roads, with awful looking flat frontages and terrible window installations that make it look like the 3rd world, without any regards to aesthetics.
By Anonymous
To anonymous @4.36
Perhaps the Head of Planning felt somewhat constrained by the previous appeal decision which allowed for a similar scheme. Are you suggesting that shouldn’t be a material consideration and she should have refused it again with likely risk of costs?
By Joy Less