Planners back plans to build schools in Littlewoods building despite business fears
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build two highs schools within Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods building have been backed despite a scathing attack from a city business.
The iconic art deco building, within Edge Lane’s new Innovation Park, was built by the Pools firm’s founders in 1938, but has sat empty for years.
But yesterday planners authorised outline planning permission for the construction of two schools within the building – after hearing that Liverpool Council will ensure historical features including its distinctive clock tower are retained.
The approval – which paves the way for two Church of England secondaries – Aigburth’s St Margaret’s and city-centre Archbishop Blanch to co-locate at the site – came despite heavy criticism from city builders and shopfitters W Braithwaite and Son, which employs 100 staff on the Botanic Estate adjacent to the Littlewoods building.
The council has championed the £45m building project as a way to boost the overall regeneration of the area and dovetail the schools’ technology specialisms.
But yesterday fears were voiced the proposal would actually hamper growth and “ be a deterrent to new development”.
As well as major fears over access and traffic congestion, Braithwaite bosses believe housing schools on a prime business site is simply “inappropriate.”
The company’s concerns to the planning committee were outlined by their representative, Edward Landor, who said the council had failed to “provide any robust evidence to demonstrate that this site should not be retained for employment purposes”.
