Proposals to build dozens of new homes and a new sports pavilion at the northern tip of Formby, near the RAF Woodvale airfield, look set for take off next week.
Redrow Homes is proposing to create 89 new properties with ‘new high quality housing’, a six-bedroom block of supported living accommodation and a sports pavilion, on two parcels of land either side of West Lane, Formby.
The development would be on land previously occupied by buildings including Clarence High School and a local brewery.
The scheme will be decided by Sefton Council’s Planning Committee at Bootle Town Hall next Wednesday (11th December 2024).
Sefton Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie is inviting councillors to approve the scheme, which has only received four objections.
In a report, he wrote: “This application is seeking consent for the erection of 89 dwellings and associated infrastructure, a six-bedroom block of supported living accommodation and a sports pavilion, on two parcels of land either side of West Lane, Formby.
“The eastern parcel is allocated for housing while the western parcel is designated as an education and care institution in the urban centre.
“In assessing the proposal having regard to the principle of development, the impact on the character of the area, the impact on living conditions, the impact on highway safety and amenity, the impact on ecology and other matters, it is considered that it complies with the aims and objectives of the Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan and Seton Local Plan and all other material considerations. It is therefore recommended for approval.”
In a planning statement on behalf of the developer, Eden Planning & Development Ltd said: “Redrow Homes is seeking to deliver new high quality housing at West Lane, Formby.
“The proposals will deliver site allocation MN2.13 of Sefton’s Local Plan, as well as re-develop the former Clarence High School, which has been closed for some time.
“This will help meet Sefton’s housing need and provide a new active use for the site.
“There will be a policy-compliant mix of market and affordable housing, as well as four apartments for housing vulnerable people and a six bedroom block of supported living accommodation.
“Overall, the proposed development would provide a significant benefit to Sefton in terms of housing delivery and to the local community of Formby.”
The site is approximately 5.6 ha in area.
It includes two parcels of land, located to the east and west of West Lane, Formby.
The eastern parcel of the land comprises open land, and formerly housed school buildings and historically a brewery, which have since been demolished.
The western parcel includes the former Clarence High School, which closed in 2018 for financial reasons and is now vacant, along with associated playing fields which were most recently used by Greenloons Formby Football Club. The school was operated by the charity Nugent.
The building at the south of the western parcel was previously in use as the Whitehouse Dog Grooming and Small Animal Centre.
The site is located at the north of the existing urban area of Formby, approximately 1.5km to the north of Formby Town Centre.
To the north of the eastern parcel is Brewery Lane and beyond this is Woodvale Airfield.
The new homes would include:
Market Dwellings:-
Houses:-
Three Bedroom – 42
Four Bedroom – 5
Five Bedroom – 9
Apartments:-
Two Bedroom – 24
Affordable Dwellings:-
One Bedroom Apartments – 2
Two Bedroom Houses – 5
Supported Housing (Nugent):-
One-Bedroom Apartments (C3) – 4
Six Bedroom Block (C2) – 1
All of the houses will be two storeys in height and the two apartment blocks both three storeys in height.
Sports Pavilion and Playing Field
The existing playing field at the west of the western parcel is being retained and will be re-marked.
A new sports pavilion is proposed at the north eastern corner of the playing field, which will replace the existing facilities at the south eastern corner, providing a significant improvement in the quality of the facilities.
The pavilion and playing field will be operated by Nugent and available for community use.
Current housing plans for the area state that the purpose is direct future housing to the town of Formby and Little Altcar and to contain the spread of the town by promoting infilling up to its settlement boundary.
The application site is located within Formby’s settlement boundary and therefore accords with overall spatial strategy set out in the NDP.
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