Controversial housing plans approved after appeal

The site of the former Elaine Norris centre on Vauxhall Road

Controversial plans to build private homes on land once set aside for community use have been approved after an appeal.

The site of the former Elaine Norris sports centre within Liverpool's Eldonian Village will be demolished to make way for private accommodation.

A mixture of 39 homes, 29 flats and associated parking will be built on Vauxhall Road following approval from the planning inspectorate.

Despite objections from the community and Liverpool Council’s planning committee, a member of the Eldonian Community Trust charity said the development is "affordable" and "a positive thing".

Paul Williams, a trustee of the Eldonian Community Trust, a charity set up to help those in the community, said: "It's good to see some regeneration, that area needs affordable homes.

"We are going from a place that is a fly-tipping haven to a piece of land that has a future."

Developers, Kersh Worral Commercial, set up in 2018, will build 26 one-bedroom units alongside three two-bedroom flats with associated parking and 39 houses, comprising two two-bedrooms, 36 three-bedrooms and one four-bedroom home.

It comes after Liverpool City Council "failed to determine the planning application within the statutory timescale", prompting Kersh Worral to appeal.

Liverpool City Council said had it been able to make a decision, the application would have been refused for reasons relating to the "lack of affordable housing, the lack of open space provision and the lack of biodiversity net gain".

But planning inspector Mr F. Rafiq said the scheme would “not cause unacceptable harm to biodiversity and not have a harmful effect on open space provision”.

The inspectorate concluded that despite concerns, the development would be acceptable in relation to the provision of affordable housing as the council "provided no evidence" that it would not be.

'Land was gifted to the community'

The developer first lodged plans for the project in 2021.

Criticism had previously been lodged around the installation of private accommodation, rather than the land being repurposed for community use.

Kirkdale councillor Joe Hanson was one of the strongest opponents of the scheme.

The BBC approached Mr Hanson following the decision but he declined to comment.

Speaking in August, he said the "land was gifted to the community by the government".

“That land was for social use and the dream for the Eldonian Village was for it to be an area from birth to grave. We have a moral responsibility to the Eldonian Village," he added.

But Mr Williams said the sports centre closed years ago and the derelict building has been a "blight on the community."

He said: "We don't want to be caught up in politics. A lot of our members are very happy that there are more opportunities for the growing families and people who want houses in this area."

Council will not pay costs

A report sent to councillors last summer indicated the applicant would seek an award of costs for what it described as “the unacceptable, unnecessary and unreasonably extended timeframe and delay undertaking the site visit and reporting the application back to planning committee.”

The planning inspectorate said Liverpool City Council had not acted unreasonably and therefore would not have to pay the appellant’s costs.

The late Tony McGann and residents formed the Eldonians housing co-operative in 1983 to stop the council demolishing their homes and moving them to other estates across Merseyside.

They devised an alternative plan to build new affordable homes and community facilities on the site of the derelict Tate & Lyle sugar factory.

The community developed, built, and managed its own housing - known as the Eldonian Village - and was praised by King Charles who visited the project in the 80s.