Developers behind the transformation of an historic school site in Southport into care accommodation want permission to increase the number of units they are allowed to build.
Proposals to convert the site of the former Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children, on Lancaster Road in Birkdale into 113 units of extra care accommodation were granted planning permission in December 2018.
Birkdale Retirement Village Ltd, based in Chorley, has now submitted fresh plans to change this to 147 units.
The firm argues that the change is necessary “for the development to perform viably in the long term”.
Birkdale Retirement Village Ltd wants to construct 147 units of extra care accommodation in six new blocks and within the Grade II listed building.
This would include the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities in the Listed building; the reconstruction of part of the listed building destroyed by fire; the repair and works for the conversion and extension of the listed building to the proposed use; creation of a new access from Lancaster Road; and hardstandings for car parking and landscaping.
The site has been vacant and frequently vandalised, including through a major fire in 2010.
Chartered Town Planners Sedgwick Associates, which submitted the fresh application to Sefton Council, said: “The application proposals meet the challenges of development on this site and in particular will deliver the full restoration of the listed school building and its conversion to a beneficial long-term use.
“For the development to perform viably in the long term, it needs to have a sound commercial base with the proposed scale of development being essential if this is to be achieved.
“Taking this commercial imperative and the heritage requirements into account, pre-application discussions with the LPA have resulted in a balanced scheme of 147 residential care units, communal space and care facilities which will deliver very significant heritage benefits, much needed care facilities for Sefton’s increasing elderly population in a manner that meets operator requirements of financial sustainability, and significant new employment opportunities.
“Given the recent history of the site, with the demise of the specialist school use in 2003, subsequent search since 2004 for viable development that would restore the listed building, that buildings deterioration, despite the owner’s best efforts, through vandalism, including part destruction by fire, the very real prospect of this highly beneficial development merits strong support.”
The proposals for an extra care development would provide managed care and support for residents over the age of 55.
An artist impression of how Birkdale Retirement Village Ltd plans to transform the site of the former Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children in Birkdale in Southport into extra care accommodation
Future residents will be required to subscribe to a weekly package of support from the operator, the level of which can be escalated to deal with advancing care needs.
The application proposals closely follow those of the approved extra care scheme, with the listed former school building being the hub of the development providing the administrative and professional care base, shared facilities, and some residential units.
Restoration and reconstruction work is currently ongoing in the listed building as part of the extant consent.
The main changes from the approved scheme are:
- Increasing accommodation from 113 to 147 units
- A fresh approach to design from Manchester-based architects, Buttress, and from Landscape Architect;
- Redesign of the appearance of all new blocks and providing a more formalised high quality landscape setting TEP in consultation with operator Cinnamon Care Collection;
- Extending new Blocks A – D towards the site boundary to increase floorspace without impact on the setting of the listed building;
- Re-siting Block E to respond better to the listed building and the formal gardens and lawns in front of it.
There are no changes proposed to the operations of the business.
On site care and support is retained as well as the shared facilities available to all residents. Shared indoor accommodation is provided on the ground floor of the listed building and includes a restaurant, bar, lounge, courtyard garden, treatment rooms, library, hairdresser, gym and activities room, laundry, reception, management and staff accommodation. Externally, there will be an extensive area of landscaped gardens providing a safe area for passive recreation and scope for resident involvement in design and management of the open area.
The residential accommodation will be in two forms, assisted living units (ALUs) are for people relying most heavily on support services and shared facilities such as the restaurant. They are to be provided within the listed building and the attached Block F, so that they are close to the carers and the shared facilities. The Supported Living Units (SLUs) are for people who require care but are less dependent.
An artist impression of how Birkdale Retirement Village Ltd plans to transform the site of the former Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children in Birkdale in Southport into extra care accommodation
There would be 147 units of residential accommodation across the site, including within the listed building and in 6 new blocks. All of these units are designed for use by elderly people, with wheelchair access and appropriate circulation space, including within the bedrooms. Each unit will have a balcony so that residents have easy access to private outdoor space.
There will be 151 car parking spaces provided, and 10% of these will have charging points for electric vehicles.
The former school is a Grade II Listed Building. It was built in 1901 of red brick with red roof tiles and opened as a private boarding school for boys, known as Terra Nova. Alterations were made and extensions were constructed in 1908.
The boarding school continued until 1939 when the building was taken over by the Central National Registration Office and was used throughout World War II as a records office.
In 1948 the building was occupied by the Liverpool School for Partially Deaf. Its name changed to the School for the Partially Hearing, Birkdale in 1964. Its name was subsequently changed to the Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children in 1986. It continued under that name until its doors closed on 23 July 2003. The building has remained vacant since that date
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