The principal view into Wavertree Village Conservation Area is from Childwall Road towards Picton Clock and the proposals will not have an adverse impact on this vista. Distant views are afforded across the site from Thingwall Road and the Manweb Sports Field which will be maintained by the linear park. The linear park will also maintain views across the site towards Wavertree Garden Suburb Conservation Area.

The proposal therefore protects the setting of Wavertree Village and Wavertree Garden Suburb Conservation Areas, important views into and out of them and the setting of listed buildings near the site and accords with UDP Policies HD5 and HD12.

Community Facilities

Policy C1 states that for any development proposal that involves the loss of an existing social facility, the City Council will seek to negotiate with the developer to ensure that the facility is relocated to a more appropriate location which is easily accessible to its users. The proposal includes the provision of a community centre within the sheltered housing block making it convenient for the needs of less mobile elderly users, accessible to all residents within the development site and close to public transport facilities. The existing social facility (Olive Mount Community Centre) will be replaced in an appropriate location which is easily accessible to its users in accordance with Policy C1.

Other issues

A number of local residents have objected to the proposal on the grounds that the tower blocks should not be demolished. The tower blocks are not listed and are not in a Conservation Area, and therefore the principle of their demolition is acceptable.

Conclusion

The Planning Manager considers that the proposed development of the land bounded by Childwall Road/Thingwall Road/Manweb Playing Fields/Olive Mount Children's Hospital/Mill Lane for 249 dwellings; areas of public open space; an associated network of streets, pedestrian routes and parking areas; with traffic calming measures to existing streets, following the demolition of the school, tower blocks, and community facilities accords with the Policies of the City of Liverpool Unitary Development Plan outlined above, with the exception of the visual amenity criteria of Policy OE11 (Development on Green Space).

However, it is considered that the proposal will bring significant benefits to the local community including an integrated, community-focussed development of private and social housing which allows the existing mainly elderly tenants of the LHAT to remain in the immediate area, occupying much improved housing, closer to public transport and shopping facilities; the provision of a new landscaped linear park and two additional areas of public open space; the removal of three unsightly tower blocks; an improvement in the setting of the listed Olive Mount Hospital building; and the opportunity to enhance the landscaping of the area through tree planting. These benefits are considered to be material considerations that outweigh the harm to the visual amenity value of the green space that the proposal will cause.

continued . . .