Plans for luxury apartments overlooking the Dee Estuary at Hoylake have been thrown out by Wirral Council.
Blueoak Estates had wanted to demolish the 1920s detached home – ‘Wirral Point’ – at the end of Stanley Road, and replace it with a four-storey circular building with nine, three bedroom apartments and a basement car park.
The address is one of the most desirable in Hoylake, but the distinctive design caused a storm of protest, with 181 objections – including from Royal Liverpool Golf Club – and many people concerned that it was out of keeping with a conservation area.
However, a decision notice issued earlier today by Wirral Council has refused the planning application, following the expiry of the consultation period.
The decision letter says the scheme would have had “a detrimental and irreversible impact upon the character, integrity and setting of the conservation area”.
It adds that there is “no requirement for a key landmark building within this location” and describes it as an “unneighbourly form of development”.
The architects had argued they had taken inspiration from the natural landscape, and that the shape “relates to the surrounding organic shapes of the sandstone, adopting curved, sweeping edges matching the landscaping at ground level”.
Iain MacLean, Director of Blueoak Estates, had previously told West Kirby Today: “The scheme has been designed to meet the evident demand for accommodation of this type in Wirral. It specifically considers the needs of the elderly and disabled.
“Each unit is large and spacious with lift access and the building will exceed building regulations to ensure long-term sustainability and low-running costs.
“The proposed replacement building is a landmark structure whose distinctive maritime-inspired design reflects both its coastal location and the area’s shipping heritage.
“We have also taken a careful and sensitive approach to contain the scale of the build and maintain an appropriate relationship with neighbouring properties.”
The developer has six months to appeal the decision.