Boost for housing plans on site of Thingwall Hall

Oct 17 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

A MAJOR £60m housing scheme in the grounds of Knowsley’s historic Thingwall Hall received an important boost last night when planning officers in Liverpool dropped their opposition.

The city council was expected to be one of the main objectors at a public inquiry in January to decide whether the 528-house estate by builders Redrow should go ahead. But senior planning officers in Liverpool will be calling on the council’s planning committee on Tuesday to withdraw its opposition.

Last night, Knowsley Council said the hearing would still go ahead as planned, when a government appointed inspector will examine the scheme.

Because the 18-acre development site borders the city boundary, Knowsley council had to ask Liverpool planners for their views.

Since last year they have officially opposed the scheme.

Liverpool’s view, until now, has been the proposed scheme is so big it will undermine the city’s own attempts to attract new residential schemes to inner-city areas which are more in need of regeneration.

At the heart of the site was Thingwall Hall, a 19th century manor house bequeathed to Liverpool in 1948. Until its closure it was used to accommodate youngsters with learning difficulties.

Comedian Ken Dodd, who lives near Thingwall Hall in Knotty Ash, was among campaigners fighting to spare it.

Working with Yvonne Irving of the Knotty Ash Village Conservation Society, Mr Dodd wanted to transform the house into a museum of comedy.

Those plans went up in smoke when the house was destroyed in a fire, leading to the demolition of the property.

Liverpool’s planning manager, Nigel Lee, is calling on the planning committee to withdraw its objection.

He said a separate inquiry into Knowsley’s planning blueprint had earmarked the Thingwall site for residential use, ruling out an objection from Liverpool at the inquiry.

Planners want the council to maintain the city’s objections to the scheme on highway grounds.

Following talks between Liverpool and Knowsley councils and Redrow, positive progress has been made. Liverpool wants to maintain its objection until further details of road schemes in the area are available.

Redrow agreed to phase in the development completing no more than 150 by 2011.

larryneild