City centre apartment scheme approved after ‘productive discussions’ with council

Plans for a 435-apartment scheme in Liverpool city centre have been approved today (July 11).

The scheme, designed by the Liverpool studio of architects Falconer Chester Hall, is for two mixed-use blocks, including a curved frontage design for block B to the corner of Chadwick Street and Pall Mall.

The site, currently a mix of surface car parking and old sheds, which will be demolished and will continue the regeneration of the Pumpfields area.

Notes to today’s Liverpool City Council planning committee meeting said: “The development would enable the regeneration of a derelict site that is important to the continued redevelopment of Pumpfields. It would contribute positively towards a diverse and complimentary mix of uses, in a highly accessible location, and therefore create a sustainable form of development.

“The development accords with planning policy to support development of a larger city centre residential population. The proposed new buildings are of an appropriate scale, height and massing and would create numerous environmental benefits, including the overall appearance of the application site and the surrounding area.

“Although the proposed development would cause a minor adverse impact upon the setting of the Grade II-listed Waterloo Warehouse, this harm is considered to be less than substantial harm and would be outweighed by the wider public benefits of the proposal.”

Developer, Nextdom Property, significantly revised the scheme from its original proposals in April last year when it offered to develop a total of 550 apartments as part of an £86m scheme.

But following “productive discussions” with Liverpool City Council’s planning team following a design review, it announced new proposals in February this year for an £83m scheme providing 435 apartments.

The original design included plans for 362 apartments in block A and 188 in block B.

The new submission now provides 294 homes in block A and 141 in block B, having reduced the height of the scheme, from 17 storeys to 10 in block A and from 10 storeys to seven in block B.

Today’s planning committee approved the proposal by five votes to two.

Philip Didlick, from Nextdom, said: “This was a tricky consent to negotiate because our work spanned the emergence of the new local plan and supplementary guidance on tall buildings. It was a bit of a moveable feast for a while, but a partnership approach with the council saw us over the line. I’m pleased with the outcome.”

Quentin Keohane, director at Falconer Chester Hall, said: “This is a wide street and so it was imperative that whatever built form was re-introduced was of the right scale. The development sets a precedent for what is an area in transition and will set the tone for future schemes.

“It was particularly important to introduce animation to the street scene and so the ground floor uses have a key role to play. Pall Mall will get a much-needed shot of light and life from this development and I’m looking forward to seeing how the whole neighbourhood changes, in time.”

He added: “This part of Vauxhall provides an opportunity for the city’s northwards expansion, linking up with Ten Streets and Everton Football Club’s new stadium, which is already starting to make itself felt.”

Zerum acted as planning consultant to the applicant. Heritage Architecture provided heritage advice, with Redmore Environmental advising on ecology.