A Liverpool MP said she is “astonished” at attempts to overturn the rejection of a controversial housing plan in the south of the city.
In July last year, following a four month campaign, Liverpool Council’s planning department confirmed it would not allow an application to go ahead for the building of another level on the existing building at Beech Court, Allerton. Members of the action group made up of concerned residents, who dubbed themselves Extension Rebellion, said they were pleased with the decision.
Applicant Rachmarc Properties had sought to add the properties on a new floor above the current three storey building that consists of 30 two-bed flats. According to the application submitted to Liverpool Council by peter Hamilton planning consultancy on behalf of RachMarc, the proposed development would have included one two bed and eight further one bed apartments on top of the existing block of flats.
READ MORE: Mum claims hospital asked if she abused her baby after he developed mystery bruises
A supporting statement submitted as part of the application outlines the one bed flats were “designed with a study/office space to provide accommodation for occupiers to work from home.” Details released on the Planning Inspectorate website confirmed an appeal was opened on behalf of RachMarc Properties on February 13, with a decision expected around April 3.
Writing to the Planning Inspectorate, Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree said she was not assured by the new plans submitted by the applicant. She wrote: “It is my belief that the amended proposals still don’t offer enough parking for each resident at Beech Court to have a parking space, with the proposals outlining 28 spaces for 39 proposed flats.
“The proposals also rely on capacity drawn from what is described as ‘informal’ parking spaces on the Beech Court site, but this capacity is already used by existing residents at the site so in my view cannot be relied upon for the purposes of the appeal.” Ms Barker said an assessment of traffic flow had been “based on one site visit, lasting 15 minutes, on a Saturday afternoon” and said Allerton Road is one of the busiest retail areas in South Liverpool, with a number of businesses, shops, restaurants and bars.
The Labour MP added she had seen “first hand the high levels of demand for parking which already exist” and it was “clear that RachMarc Properties have been failing to provide an adequate service to leaseholders at the site for some time and there are several issues of maintenance and disrepair which need to be addressed.”
She said: “The appellant has failed to engage with residents at Beech Court in a meaningful way throughout this process and I am frankly astonished that they are now attempting to use problems that they have failed to address as a reason for moving forward with their inadequate and flawed proposals which the existing residents strongly oppose.”
In its written reasoning for knocking back the plans, the planning authority said: “The proposed development would fail to provide adequate off-street car parking spaces to meet the demands of the increased number of residents, which would likely lead to parking on a busy highway to the detriment of highway safety, and parking on the Beech Court access road to the detriment of highway and pedestrian safety”. It added that despite the council wishing to work with the applicant in a “positive and proactive manner in seeking solutions to any problems arising during the course of the application” in the case of this application, no advice was sought before it was submitted.
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT
'He was my best mate' dad's heartbreaking tribute to son killed in Speke crash
Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
'I think he's dead' - Driver's 999 call after teenager killed in high-speed chase
Mum, 22, died after being told to 'get on with it'
New Look's 'incredible' £36 dress that's 'perfect for a spring wedding'
