New affordable homes are planned for a site on Litherland Road which was also the location of an old gas works
The site of the old tax office, Litherland House in Bootle(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Part of Bootle is set to undergo a significant transformation after plans were submitted to build 135 new affordable homes on the site of the former HMRC tax offices at Litherland House. The majority of the buildings have already been demolished and clearance works appear to be underway.
For many younger residents, the area around Litherland Road, could soon be unrecognisable as the final structures are torn down, more than ten years after the land was left vacant. Litherland Road will be best known as the location of the tax offices which once employed hundreds of people, before being closed down in 2015.
The site was also part of Linacre Gas Works, as first shown on mapping during the 1890s, and then underwent some remediation in the 1990s prior to construction of Litherland House, which was later demolished. However, after more than a decade of disuse, the land is now subject to a planning application, submitted on September 11 last year, by a company based in Leicestershire called Spirit 150 Limited.
The proposal is for a residential development of 135 affordable homes, comprising of 82 houses, with two additional three-storey-buildings, made up of 53 apartments. According to the plans, the apartment blocks will front the Liverpool-Leeds canal, creating an ‘active and well-defined edge’.
The site of the old tax office, Litherland House in Bootle(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Three non-designated heritage assets are identified as being in close proximity to the site, the most prominent of these is the canal, which runs along the site’s eastern boundary.
The canal and its tow path are recognised as significant historic, environmental, and spatial design assets. As part of early pre-application discussions, the Liverpool ECHO understands the Canal & River Trust welcomed the opportunity to open up the site’s boundary with the canal, ‘encouraging a more accessible and engaging frontage’.
In relation to possible conditions which should be met to achieve a success planning application, the council has advised the developer to provide a commitment to protect priority species and retained habitats from physical damage, and ensure no negative environmental impact on the canal.
A statement published on the planning portal, from the Canal & River Trust states: “Development and construction works in close proximity to a canal have the potential to adversely affect the structural integrity of the canal.
“It is essential that structural integrity of the canal is not put at risk as part of any development proposal, including excavations and vibration, which could in the worst case scenario result in the failure of the waterway.”
The site of the old tax office, Litherland House in Bootle(Image: Liverpool Echo)
It added: “In the interests of safeguarding the structural integrity of the adjacent canal infrastructure, the Trust would request the submission of further detail showing the proposed development in relation to the canal infrastructure, along with means of construction, to demonstrate that the proposed development would not adversely impact land stability or the structural integrity of the canal.”
Sefton Council’s strategic Housing team also submitted a comment, which said: “[We] welcome this application for 135 affordable homes on a key site in Bootle. Delivery of this site will contribute significantly to housing growth in Bootle and Sefton, but also the regeneration of the area, which is identified as the Hawthorne Road/Canal Corridor regeneration opportunity area.”
The local authority has already acknowledged an “unprecedented demand for affordable housing”, and has recently endorsed 100% affordable housing delivery on brownfield land, such as at the former Bootle High School site. That scheme was considered an “important opportunity to develop more high quality and affordable homes for local residents”.
The council said these projects align with its ambition to meet local housing needs through both rental and low-cost home ownership. The applicant said the proposed development on Litherland Road is directly comparable, offering similar benefits on a brownfield site and supporting the same local policy objectives.
The site of the old tax office, Litherland House in Bootle(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Some of those are noted in the applicant’s planning statement, including reference to the apparent economic benefits: “The scheme will generate increased local household expenditure from incoming residents, providing a boost to nearby businesses and services.
“The construction will create temporary employment opportunities, training placements, and supply chain contracts, delivering substantial short-term investment in the area.
“The introduction of new residents will broaden the local skills base, enhancing the potential productivity and resilience of nearby businesses.”
The plans for the site have now passed the consultation phase, and will now progress onto the planning committee stage.