36 affordable apartments at Arundel Park Nursing Home, Sefton Park Care Village, Liverpool

What was proposed

The application proposed a part four-storey, part five-storey building with 36 apartments, parking, access, boundary works and landscaping after demolition of the care home.

“The application seeks full planning permission for the redevelopment of the site to provide a residential development comprising 36 apartments. The proposed development comprises a single building ranging between four and five storeys in height, located at the junction of Greenheys Road and Sefton Park Road.”

“Vehicular access to the site is proposed via the existing access point at the north- eastern corner. Pedestrian access is provided from both Greenheys Road and Sefton Park Road. The development includes on-site car parking located to the rear of the building. Cycle parking is also proposed within the site.”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The vacant former care home was in disrepair, with a former car park, boundary planting and nearby residential buildings of varied heights.

“The application site is occupied by the former Greenheys Lodge Residential Care Home, a purpose-built facility constructed in 1996. The building has been vacant for approximately four years and is currently in a state of disuse, with windows boarded for security.”

“The surrounding area is characterised by a varied but predominantly residential context. Immediately adjacent to the site are a number of flatted developments, including a four-storey block to the east and a prominent 16-storey tower to the south. Along Greenheys Road and within the wider vicinity, the prevailing built form comprises substantial Victorian villas and mansion-style properties, typically two to three storeys in height.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered demolition, alterations to the former care home and a nearby residential development for older people.

“96P/0249 To erect care village, comprising 50-bed nursing home, 40 bed EMI home, 33 bed residential care home, 16 close care apartments and communal and car parking facilities Approved 14/06/1996”

“Surrounding Sites 20F/2585 Former Sefton Park Care Village, also within the ownership of the Applicant To erect a 3-storey block of 26 no. units along the Sefton park Road frontage, with a 2-storey mews development of 2 no. blocks providing 16 no. units (42 no. units in total) for the over 55's with associated parking and landscaping. Approved 22/03/2023”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because affordable housing, brownfield regeneration and other public benefits outweighed the housing mix conflict and identified impacts.

“The proposal does, however, give rise to a conflict with Policy H3 and the evidence base contained within the Strategic Housing Market Needs Assessment in respect of housing mix. The scheme is predominantly comprised of one-bedroom units and does not provide larger, family-sized accommodation, which represents the greatest identified need within the Suburban South sub-market area. This conflict attracts moderate weight against the proposal.”

“When considered as a whole, the adverse impacts identified, namely the departure from the preferred housing mix, are not considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme. In particular, the delivery of 100% affordable housing carries substantial weight and is considered to outweigh the identified policy conflict.”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

Four objections raised concerns about traffic, parking, scale, design, heritage, privacy and pedestrian safety, while consultees generally raised no objection subject to conditions.

“Concerns that the development would increase traffic and pedestrian activity, placing additional pressure on Lodge Lane and surrounding streets, where road and pavement conditions are stated to be poor and lacking accessibility features such as drop kerbs and tactile paving.”

“Concerns regarding pedestrian safety, including reference to hazardous conditions on nearby roads and crossings.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent addressed the committee in support, and the planning case officer summarised the application and recommended approval.

The decision

The application was approved subject to the proposed conditions, a legal agreement and delegated authority if the agreement was not signed by 28 January 2027.

“(ii) The payment of a contribution of £3,429 (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 28 th January 2027 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 agreement to pay a commuted sum in lieu of the provision/enhancement of street trees, open space and affordable housing, contrary to Policies TP1, TP5, TP6, H14, STP2, STP3, STP5,…”

Minutes