Plans for hundreds of apartments on former children's hospital land will not go ahead as part of a major revamp.
Almost two years ago, Liverpool Council signed off on proposals for Manchester-based property developers Step Places and McCarthy Stone to build four blocks up to five storeys high on part of the former Alder Hey Hospital site on Alder Road. The project, which has attracted strong opposition to this day, would have allowed for the construction of 160 apartments, an office block, retirement accommodation, 13 care apartments and 40 homes.
New documents have confirmed Step Places is now seeking to amend the plans, reducing the number of homes and assisted living facilities but increasing the amount of retirement apartments.
READ MORE: Woman sacked from Merseyside Police after sending racist WhatsApp messages
A further 27 units for over 55s would be built, bringing the total to 59, but only 31 houses and eight autism assisted living units would now feature. A spokesperson for the developer confirmed the 160 apartments and creche that had been originally proposed will now no longer go ahead.
A newsletter from Step Places issued to residents in Knotty Ash has confirmed the developer is seeking to submit an amended planning application to Liverpool Council and is seeking public views on the scheme. When the original plans were submitted for the old demolished Alder Hey site, almost 500 objections were lodged with the city council.
The wrangle between the community in Knotty Ash and the hospital over Springfield Park has continued since a land exchange agreement with Liverpool Council made in 2012. Almost eight years ago, the specialist children’s hospital opened its new healthcare campus on land within Springfield Park resulting in green space being lost in the community.
Alder Hey is obligated to return 9.4 hectares of land back to council ownership, with one phase already completed. Earlier this year, Dame Jo Williams, chair of the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust board, said she recognised it had been a “long and extended period of time” for the full park to be handed back to the community.
It is hoped the full park will be returned by the end of the year, with progress being made on the installation of a multi-use games area. The newsletter sent to homes in Knotty Ash by Step Places explained the new approach to the scheme.
It said: “Following discussions with Alder Hey NHS Trust, a portion of the site has been sold back to the NHS Trust, this portion of the site will be developed for their own use to meet local health service needs and requirements.” The flyer described the design changes as “minor.”
It added how 89 new trees would be planted under the revised plans “alongside many new plant and shrub species, providing biodiversity benefits.” A pair of mature trees on the site are to be preserved.
The developers added: “Our approach is to extend the park landscape and green spaces from Springfield Park through to the new Springfield Gardens development. The new buildings provide views of the park itself, creating a safer and more welcoming place to be.”
Stephen Guy, chair of the West Derby Society, was a strong objector to the original proposals and expressed his disappointment with the amended plans on social media. He said: “Step Places is once again trying to soft-soap the people of West Derby into accepting a totally inappropriate scheme. The Society wants the planning committee to reject this new application which includes retirement accommodation provided by McCarthy Stone.”
Mr Guy said he and campaigners would favour a planning inquiry into the wider development of the park, but said “no-one objects to former Alder Hey land being used for health and hospital purposes.” He added: “Things have changed since the original Step Places plans were approved – new councillors and new wards.
“We urge the planning committee to throw out these plans. It might encourage the NHS Trust to buy back the rest of the land.
“This would give us what the trust and city council pledged more than a decade ago – a hospital in the park.”
Get the latest crime reports and investigations from Merseyside by signing up to our newsletter
