A new development will “breathe new life and regeneration” into a part of Ainsdale in Southport with dozens of new homes, flats and bungalows, in addition to a block of 90 bed extra care apartments for people over 55 years old and a new Autistic respite facility.
The plans by Riverside will create “much-needed housing and respite facilities” in the area after the plans were approved by Sefton Council.
The new facility would be “a valuable community asset”, with a bistro and hair salon which can be accessed by members of the public.
The applicant is a social housing provider and this proposal will provide for a mix of affordable housing.
The scheme also features a new access road, car parks and open space, following the demolition of the existing building on the site, at The Meadows on Sandbrook Road.
The plans are being progressed by Riverside, which describes itself as “one of the leading registered providers of social housing in the UK, offering affordable housing and support to people of all ages and circumstances”.
In its planning application to the council, Riverside said: “The designs produced for the Sandbrook Road site will breathe life into a site allocated for investment and regeneration.
“Beyond the obvious benefits of new job creation, the proposals seek to create much-needed housing and respite facilities whilst improving security and green space.”
The ambitious scheme will lead to the redevelopment of the site currently containing buildings between Sandbrook Road and Orchard Lane in Ainsdale.
Riverside will lead the demolition of the existing buildings before the construction of 40 houses, 90 extra care apartments and communal areas, and 12 Autistic respite units and communal areas all with associated infrastructure.
The scheme also features a new access road, car parks, open space and landscaping.
The scheme will be served from a new access road off Sandbrook Road. The new road will serve the dwellings with two car parks off of the main road serving the extra care and respite units.
The 5.5 acre site currently contains various disused buildings and open ground.
In its submission, Riverside said: “The development proposals are mixed residential uses consisting of bungalows, family housing, flats, and an ‘extra care’ over 55s facility.
“Alongside the residential buildings there will be an Autistic respite centre, which offers accommodation and other services for people with Autism. We consider this application to be an opportunity to widen the type, size, affordability and availability of housing in the local and wider area.
“We consider the new facility to be a valuable community asset, with a bistro and hair salon which can be accessed by members of the public. The design allows for inclusive access and will not discriminate against any types of disability.
“With regard to the amount of car parking provided onsite, we are providing 50 for the extra care and 68 for the houses and bungalows (2 per unit) and 6 for the flats (1 per unit). The respite centre also has a private car park containing 13 spaces for visitors and staff.”
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The application site is allocated for housing development within Sefton Council’s Local Plan policy.
“In respect of the provision of the extra care apartments and the respite facility, one of the identified principles within the Local Plan is to ‘meet the diverse needs for homes, jobs, services and facilities, as close to where they arise as possible’ while another is to ‘help meet the housing needs of Sefton’s changing population for market and affordable housing; homes for families, the elderly, people with other special housing needs and others’.
“Within the aim of this policy it is considered that the application as a whole complies with this overarching policy.”
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