New plan to rebuild Sally Army’s famous Strawberry Field submitted
PLANS to rebuild the Strawberry Field Salvation Army children’s home – made famous by the Beatles song penned by John Lennon – have been submitted to Liverpool City Council.
If approved, the new centre will offer training for young people with learning disabilities as well as providing a visitor experience and a café area which will be open to the public.
The church and charity organisation was given planning permission to redevelop the site in the Woolton suburb in October 2014, but a spokeswoman said a new application has been prompted by research into the needs of the local community.
She said the scheme would be financed by the Salvation Army and from a public fund raising campaign with a target figure of about £4m.
“Plans are in a very early stage, so information is sketchy,” she told TheBusinessDesk. “But we are grateful for the support we have received from those living nearby and we will of continue to inform residents throughout the next stages of development.
“Since we received permission to rebuild in 2014, we have been carrying out a process of research and development to ensure we’re able to fully utilise the project for the benefit of the community, young people with learning disabilities, their families, visitors to the city as well as Salvationists.
“This has meant submitting a new planning application. The footprint of the building remains largely unchanged.
“Before submitting the plans we consulted with neighbours. If anybody in the area has anything they wish to discuss with us, our door remains open. We are a community organisation and we want our new programme to serve the community.”
The earliest reference to Strawberry Field dates from 1870. In 1912 it was transferred to a wealthy merchant whose widow sold the estate to the Salvation Army in 1934. It opened on July 7 1936.
The original house was later demolished and replaced with a smaller purpose-built home for children which opened in the early 1970s.
The home provided three family units, each accommodating 12 children. It closed in early January 2005 and is now a church and prayer centre.
The famous gates marking its entrance were removed and replaced with replicas in May 2011.
The name of the home became world famous in 1967 with the release of The Beatles single Strawberry Fields Forever written by John Lennon.
Lennon grew up near the home – one of his childhood treats was the garden party that took place each summer on the grounds of Strawberry Field.
Lennon’s Aunt Mimi, who brought him up, once recalled: “As soon as we could hear the Salvation Army Band starting, John would jump up and down shouting “Mimi, come on. We’re going to be late.”
