Liverpool is a city that never stays still, with new developments and progress springing up in towns, villages and the city centre wherever you look.
Liverpool Council ’s planning committee is the body that deals with handing out permission for things as small as a new fence, to as big as building a football ground on Bramley Moore Dock. The panel considered a wide variety of issues when it met on Tuesday and here are the things we learned that will change across the city as a result.
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Dentist expansion in South Liverpool
A dentist surgery on Allerton Road has been given permission to expand its business. Applicant Arif Khan sought to double the number of surgery rooms from two to four by extending through the ground floor at the large end of terrace property on the junction with Ensworth Road. Resident Peter Barker told councillors that concerns existed around the “highly congested” area and the application would have a “significant detrimental impact" on the area.
Mr Barker also said there would be additional risks for disabled people in the area. Dr Khan told the committee that his plans would bring the neighbouring property “back to life” after it had been left empty for some time. In approving the proposals, committee chair Cllr Tony Concepcion said it provided “positive benefits” to the area.
Mental health unit in Mossley Hill
Amended plans have been accepted for a new mental health facility on the site of the old Mossley Hill hospital. A total of four, 20-bed wards will now be constructed on the former Mossley Hill Hospital grounds as services are consolidated from sites across Liverpool.
The new provision will provide acute care services previously found at the Broadoak Unit in Broadgreen Hospital and Windsor House, Toxteth. The revised scheme will no longer incorporate the services from the STAR Unit, located at the Rathbone Hospital site.
The site on Park Avenue previously consisted of a series of predominantly single and two storey buildings and had been developed over a number of years for mental health care service provision. These buildings have recently been demolished under the redevelopment planning permission.
A new hotel next to a Grade II listed building
A new hotel that “could be seen from North Wales” received planning approval by councillors, despite its proximity to a listed building. A 274-room hotel building, up to nine storeys high, will be built on land around Prescot Street and Low Hill.
It is the second time the plans have been considered by councillors after a previous application was signed off in November 2019. Applicants Equity Group Ltd and Elliot Group International received the go-ahead despite concerns existing around the impact on the grade II listed building opposite, currently home of Bridewell Studios.
Fears were also aired about the height of the building with Cllr Pat Moloney saying he had issues with the “absolute scale” of the development and said the tall nature of the building could be "overpowering". Cllr Billy Lake added: “The highest part of this building could be seen from the highest point in the city.
“I think you’d be able to see it from Moel Famau in North Wales. This is a city full of buildings of architectural note and we keep repeatedly putting brown boxes all over the city."
As the plans were approved following a vote, chair Cllr Concepcion said the application would provide jobs, opportunities and improve the city's leisure offer.
Amended hospital plans
Tweaked proposals for Aintree University Hospital were also given the green light. When members signed off on original plans on March 1, it was under the agreement that the applicant would enter into a Section 106 agreement for the payment of £8,000 in lieu of the provision of two street trees and £1,732.50 in lieu of funding the Council’s Public Art Strategy as well as contributions to cover the costs of monitoring the agreement and legal fees.
The Trust has now confirmed that two trees will be planted within the site, meeting the policy requirements. The committee quickly moved to pass the plans.
