Flats plan for Garden Festival site gets go-ahead

Jul 10 2008 By David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post Staff

Garden Festival site

THE CONSTRUCTION of 1,300 apartments on Liverpool’s former International Garden Festival site has been given the go ahead by the government.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has approved planning permission given by Liverpool City Council for the £250m project following a public inquiry held in 2007 and January this year.

John Downes, managing director of Langtree, one of the partners in the scheme said he was delighted by the result.

Liverpool Council and Langtree McLean will now sit down to agree a timetable for work to start on the 125-acre site in Otterspool.

Langtree McLean now has permission to build 1,308 apartments and 66 town houses on land at Otterspool, which has fallen into neglect since the 1984 festival.

The decision also paves the way for the restoration of 56 acres of public parkland including the Japanese and Chinese Gardens, which were described as the “jewels in the crown” of the International Garden Festival event.

Ms Blears gave the go ahead to the developers in a letter which said she agreed with the findings of the planning inspector who had recommended the scheme be given approval.

She agreed “the proposals would have positive and substantial regeneration benefits.”

And that “the proposals are economically viable and there is no evidence to support suggestions that excessive profits would be made or that a scheme with fewer housing units would be able to fund the proposed park.”

She also agreed that “when assessed in the round and as a package, it would substantially benefit nature conservation.”

“The effect of the proposed scheme on the character and appearance of the whole promenade would be harmful, but this would be outweighed by the benefits deriving from the proposals.”

Although the proposed travel plan for the scheme was judged to “fall short of the current best practice, there are no transport related reasons to refuse this planning application”.

Mr Downes said: “Today’s decision follows four years of hard work culminating in more than 100 consultation events, over 6,500 man-hours and a considerable financial investment.

“Working closely in partnership with Liverpool City Council, the local community and local partners we have devised plans for a mixed use development and urban park that will bring this derelict site back into productive use allowing the public access to a revitalised parkland already considered part of Liverpool’s heritage.”

Council leader Warren Bradley said: “This is an important decision for the city of Liverpool and a victory for common sense.

“Liverpool City Council applauds the Secretary of State for coming to this decision.

“The site is currently a major blight on the local community and a considerable source of anti-social behaviour. Leaving it vacant after more than 20 years is simply not an option.

“The plans will ensure that this site is once again an asset that the city can be proud of and, importantly, can access once again.

“We’re confident that Langtree McLean can offer a workable solution to the problems posed by the site and we look forward to seeing this scheme come to fruition.”