An appeal has been launched into a controversial housing development in South Liverpool that sought to put an additional storey on to existing properties.
In July last year, following a four month campaign, Liverpool Council’s planning department confirmed that 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 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 (correct) 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.
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A supporting statement submitted as part of the application outlines that 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.
Residents packed into the Allerton United Reformed Church on Mather Avenue in February for a preliminary discussion on efforts to stop the building work.
A formal committee was then established to oppose the plans. In its written reasoning for knocking back the bid, 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.
Reacting to the decision, Paul Riley, chair of the campaign group at Beech Court said: “All the Beech Court residents and tenants and also extremely supportive neighbouring residents are over the moon with the council ruling. We worked very hard by holding meetings, petitioning, lobbying and submitting 171 objections to the extension application.”
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