Plans submitted for Woolton Village heritage site

PLANS for the redevelopment of a key heritage site on the edge of Liverpool’s Woolton Village have been submitted to the City Council.

The scheme devised by Liverpool developer Peter McInnes – chairman of North Point Global – is for the former St Gabriel’s convent and children’s home.

In total the scheme proposes 35 two and three bed apartments, a mix of 15 attached and detached houses and the restored Grecian Lodge and Orangery house.

North Point, which is also spearheading plans for the regeneration of Chinatown, has assembled a specialist team of architects, landscape architects and heritage consultants to conceive a scheme worthy of an “exceptional and sensitive location”.

McInnes said: “This is a totally different kind of challenge, but one that also needs an imaginative and bespoke solution.

“That’s why we have brought in a highly specialised design and heritage team and consulted intensively with local people and heritage groups.”

The site formerly had permission for a Care Village and was also looked at more recently by a well-known volume house builder.

The new plans envisage a less dense development with retention of mature trees and restoration of the historic parkland surrounding the original Knolle Park House built in 1828.

The scheme proposes the restoration and conversion of both Knolle Park House and the site’s distinctive Grecian-style lodge house and the replacement of the 1930s annex with a sympathetically designed new apartment building.

Other 1960’s residential blocks on the site will be demolished to make way for a small number of striking new-build houses which will be the first in the city to attain Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency.

Lead architect for the development Russell Bridge, from Manchester-based practice Bridge Architects, says the combination of sensitive restoration and cutting-edge eco-design has been warmly supported by heritage groups and local residents.

“We have been through a thorough and inclusive consultation prior to submission of planning which has involved meetings with The Woolton Society, Civic Society a well-attended public exhibition and a presentation to a Places Matter design review.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We are safeguarding the essentially green nature of the site, and creating new homes that are attractive, innovative and complement this quite exceptional setting.”