Green light for major Merseyside housing scheme

HUNDREDS of homes and a railway station are to be built in Merseyside after the plans were approved by Sefton Council.

The 35-acre site, close to high security Ashworth Hospital in Maghull, was acquired by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) from the Ministry of Justice in 2013 after plans to build a new prison were scrapped.

The permission covers 370 houses and a railway station to connect the new development.

The HCA is now seeking expressions of interest from developers and wants the work to start on site next summer.

HCA area manager Richard Jones said: “The HCA acquired this site from Ministry of Justice as part of the Government’s initiative to accelerate the delivery of much needed housing on sites within the public sector portfolio, so I’m pleased that we have been able to secure a resolution to grant planning permission at this time. The whole team worked hard to ensure the application addressed the concerns and expectations of the local community.”

David Sayer and James McGivern of GVA are advising the HCA.