Wirral Growth Company and Lidl team up in Moreton

Plans have been submitted for a mixed-use development of a supermarket, 45 houses, and an 80-bed extra-care facility on land east of Pasture Road.

Stantec, formerly Barton Willmore, has submitted a hybrid application for the scheme on behalf of discount grocer Lidl and Wirral Growth Company, a 50:50 joint venture between Wirral Council and Muse Developments. The submission follows the second round of consultation on the scheme, which was held in February.

The project focuses on 7.5 acres in Moreton, including the library, the former Moreton Family Centre, and the old Moreton Youth Club.

Wirral Growth Company and Lidl are seeking full planning permission to demolish the youth club and replace it with a 20,000 sq ft supermarket. The Lidl would have 98 standard car parking spaces, nine accessible spaces, and nine parent and child ones.

Parking would be free for up to 90 minutes, enabling shoppers to explore other parts of Moreton – including the library.

Under designs by architect AHR, Moreton Library would be expanded by nearly 1,000 sq ft.

The interior layout of the library would be reconfigured as well to provide a flexible central area for community use, as well as offices, dedicated youth space, a computer suite, police office, meeting rooms, and more. An outdoor activity area would be created as well, with seating and a performance area. Kids would also be able to take advantage of a playground and a small timber summer house.

The hybrid application also seeks outline permission for an extra care development and 45 homes. Credit: via planning documents

Wirral Growth Company and Lidl’s application also requests outline permission to demolish the former family centre on the site. The developers want to construct 45 houses, each with gardens, garages, and parking on 2.8 acres. A fully affordable 80-bed extra care home with a communal garden and parking would be built on another acre of land, along with a new amenity area for residents.

AHR is the architect for the project, with Hannans assisting with sustainability services. SLR is the air quality consultant, UES is the ecologist, and AEC is the noise consultant. Vectos is the transport consultant. MDLandscape is the arboricultural expert. Landscape Ecology is the leader of the landscape management plan.

Curtins is the flood risk consultant for the outline section of the application, while SCP provided drainage and flood risk advice for the library expansion and Lidl. One Design Architects is the consultant for sustainability for Lidl.

Want to learn more about the project? The application’s reference number with Wirral Council is APP/22/01686.