67 affordable homes at Land Bound By Vauxhall Road, Liverpool

What was proposed

The application proposed 67 homes, comprising 47 houses and 20 apartments, with parking, infrastructure, electric vehicle charging and landscaping.

“Proposal To erect no. 67 residential dwellings comprising of no. 47 houses and no. 20 apartments with associated works including new infrastructure, parking, EV charging points and landscaping…”

“Applicant Westchurch Homes Limited Application Number 25F/2526 DM Team City North Recommendation Approve Subject to Legal Agreement Committee Date 21 st April 2026”

Officer report

The site

The site is a long-vacant, partly developed parcel beside Vauxhall Road, Eldonian Way, the canal and a bowling green.

“This application seeks full planning permission for the erection of 67 affordable homes, comprising 47 dwellinghouses and 20 cottage flats, on a long-vacant and underutilised site bounded by Vauxhall Road, Eldonian Way and the Leeds–Liverpool Canal. The site, formerly occupied by the Elaine Norris Centre, is partly previously developed land and lies within a Primarily Residential Area.”

“The site has prominent frontage to both Vauxhall Road and the Leeds/Liverpool Canal and is partially landscaped with a surfaced car park area. The site is currently occupied by members of the traveller community. Immediately adjacent to the Vauxhall Road frontage boundary of the site is an existing bus stop. An existing cycle path also connects the site to the Vauxhall Road corridor leading onto the City Centre and beyond.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

A previous scheme for 39 houses and 29 flats was refused but allowed on appeal in 2023.

“21F/0722 To erect 39 no. dwellinghouses and four storey block comprising 29 no. flats with associated parking, landscaping and ancillary works. Refused and appeal allowed 02/08/2023 Publicity Two rounds of consultation were undertaken following amendments during the assessment of the application.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the scheme would deliver affordable housing, reuse the site, improve canal access and provide sustainable development subject to safeguards.

“The proposal would deliver 67 new homes, all of which are to be secured as affordable housing. This significantly exceeds the Local Plan requirement for 20% affordable housing and represents a substantial social benefit, contributing meaningfully to meeting identified housing needs across the city. The proposed housing mix offers a range of unit sizes, including family accommodation, and has been designed to meet or exceed the Nationally Described Space Standards.”

“Overall, the proposal represents a sustainable form of development that delivers significant social benefits through the provision of 100% affordable housing, the regeneration of a long-vacant site, enhanced public access to the canal corridor, and economic benefits during construction.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent and a member of the public addressed the committee in favour of the application, and the planning case officer summarised it.

The decision

The application was granted subject to conditions, a legal agreement and delegated authority if the agreement was not signed by 21 October 2026.

“(i) The payment of a contribution of £5189.7 (15% of the value of the planning application fee) to cover the costs of administering the legal agreement, upon signing of the legal agreement;”

“(d) In the event that the Legal Agreement required under (b) is not signed by 21 st October 2026 then the Director of Planning and Building Control be given additional delegated authority for the discretion to refuse the application for the reason that: ‘The applicant has not entered into a legal…”

Minutes