Plans to build 330 waterfront apartments have been unanimously refused permission by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee.
Developers Romal Capital had planned to erect two nine storey blocks and one four storey block which would have involved the partial infill of West Waterloo Dock.
The £100m project would have fallen within the major Liverpool Waters development area, on the edge of the city centre in the Kirkdale ward.
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The most recent application follows on from earlier plans to build over 600 apartments on the same site which were met with opposition from local resident association Save Waterloo Dock.
The plans were downsized but were once again fiercely opposed by Save Waterloo Dock and a number of local councillors.
Councillors at today’s planning committee meeting unanimously voted, 10-0, in favour to inform the planning inspector that the application by Romal Capital be refused for the reasons outlined in a council report.
The case will now be heard at an independent inquiry.
The council report, published last week, outlined the planning officer's decision that the plans be refused permission on the grounds:
- Harm and adverse impact would be caused by infilling West Waterloo Dock
- The plans would impact on land earmarked for a public square in the Liverpool Waters development nearby
- That the development contains a greater proportion of one bedroom apartments and would therefore “fail to satisfy the City’s aim of providing a broader housing offer to encourage a more diverse residential population in the city centre.”
Planning officer Peter Jones spoke at today’s meeting to outline the reason for coming to the decision to recommend refusal, adding that the plans “were not acceptable in their current form.”
When the planning officer’s recommendation was revealed last week, Romal Capital’s CEO, Greg Malouf, said he was “disturbed” by the decision.
He said: "Liverpool Waters – the complete regeneration of the city’s northern docklands – has the power to uplift this city even further, bringing investment, jobs, new businesses, and suitable housing, all centred on the historical river, docks and canal system. What could be Liverpool’s greatest opportunity sadly remains inaccessible, uninhabitable, and screaming out for investment."
A number of residents part of the Save Waterloo Dock residents association spoke at today’s meeting to outline their objection to the plans.
One of its members, Paul Burnell, said the development had “cast a shadow” over Waterloo Dock and its current residents for the last three years.
Fellow Save Waterloo Dock member Susan Cunningham said that the group was “pro-positive development, not heritage destruction.”
Debate around the plans stems from Waterloo Dock’s historic nature being one of first docks designed by celebrated engineer Jesse Hartley.
The Save Waterloo Dock group say they are opposed to the infill of the historic dock and that the city's heritage can go hand in hand with its future.
Central ward Cllr Nick Small also spoke at the meeting to outline that the plans “impact the whole city” and that we should work to “keep out industrial heritage and protect our blue spaces.”
These views were supported by Kirkdale Cllr David Hanratty who said West Waterloo Dock was a very “unique” and “special” site, while fellow Kirkdale Cllr Joe Hanson said the council can learn a “solitary lesson” that there are residents who will “go to war” to oppose developments that impact upon them.
Developers Romal Capital appealed the decision on the basis of non determination and the plans will now go to an inquiry decided on by the Planning Inspectorate.
