Scheme set to develop baths site

Jan 29 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

THE site of a former Victorian swimming baths is to be re-developed into apartments, it emerged last night.

Liverpool City Council is to sell off the former Westminster Road Baths site, in Kirkdale, for around £500,000.

Contract Time Ltd, a Liverpool firm, are now planning to build 16 apartments on the site, and under the terms of the contract have to start work within three years.

The baths, which opened in 1877, were in public use until about 10 years ago.

Then until 2005 the swimming pool was used by a diving club, before the baths were eventually demolished in late 2006.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue had originally agreed to buy the site to build a new station for Kirkdale.

But, following talks with staff at the Kirkdale station, fire officials decided to re-develop the current station in Derby Road.

The designs for that scheme are currently being drawn up by the brigade.

The deal means Contract Time get a 125-year lease of the site, and subject to satisfactory completion of the works within four years gives the company the right to acquire the freehold for £1.