PLANS to demolish Victorian villas and build classrooms and apartments at Liverpool College were put in jeopardy yesterday.

The college, off Queens Drive, Mossley Hill, wants to demolish villas on the Upper School site and build seven, three and four-storey high apartment blocks with 130 flats.

But city council planning committee members said they were minded to refuse the development because it is not suitable for a conservation area and constituted a loss of green space.

Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval. They expressed concern that if the plans were not approved, the long-term future of the only independent school in the city and associated regeneration would be jeopardised.

It was claimed that if Liverpool College closed, senior managers and other professionals considering moving to the city would choose to live in Wirral, Chester or Crosby with independent schools.

Stephen Bell, from GVA Grimley, addressing the planning committee on behalf of Liverpool College, said they had worked on the plans for more than two years to find a viable option.

He said: “This is a high quality, contemporary and unified development that can make a contribution to the conservation area.”

Ward Councillor Jan Clein spoke against the plans and said: “There are no regeneration benefits at all and they are going to be cutting down 91 trees.”

She added: “I don’t think a building development to fund a school is proper planning grounds.”

The plans had been deferred at a meeting last month pending a site visit by councillors.

Two applications relating to the Lower School site were approved allowing the construction of new educational facilities.