Liverpool City Council Fails to Reveal Objections to Controversial Housing Scheme

Strategic Insights -

Liverpool City Council has been found to have failed to disclose concerns raised by their own conservation team about plans to build 51 luxury new homes on the Harthill Estate within Calderstones Park. The council was attempting to appeal a court decision made in February 2019, which had ruled that the development should not go ahead. Despite this, the council chose to pursue the appeal in order to clarify aspects of green wedge planning law and policy. However, on May 19, the Court of Appeal dismissed the council's appeal, upholding the original decision.

Key Takeaways:

  • Liverpool City Council's conservation team had expressed "strong conservation objections" to the proposed development of three new homes within the grounds of the Victorian villa Beechley House.
  • The council's planning officer failed to mention these concerns in his report to the council's planning committee, despite mentioning other internal consultation responses.
  • The Court of Appeal found that this omission was significant and disregarded national policy and guidance relevant to the section 66(1) duty.
  • The council's appeal was dismissed, with the Court of Appeal upholding the original judge's decision to quash the planning permission granted to Redrow in February 2017.
  • Liverpool City Council had chosen to pursue the appeal in order to clarify aspects of green wedge planning law and policy, despite the fact that the development in question was not to proceed.

Statistics:

  • 51: The number of luxury new homes proposed for development on the Harthill Estate within Calderstones Park.
  • 14 February 2017: The date of the council's planning committee meeting at which the planning officer failed to mention the conservation team's concerns.
  • 19 May: The date on which the Court of Appeal dismissed the council's appeal.
  • 3: The number of new homes proposed for development within the settings of Beechley House.

Sources:

  • [1. Liverpool Echo, "Liverpool city council failed to reveal objections raised by their own conservation team about plans to build new homes in south Liverpool", no date]
  • [2. Judgment of Lord Justice Lindblom, "Redrow Homes Ltd v Liverpool City Council", Court of Appeal, 19 May]
  • [3. Liverpool Echo, "Mayor Joe Anderson welcomes Court of Appeal decision on Harthill Estate", no date]