Work is to get under way next month demolishing the former Ashton Court sheltered housing scheme in West Kirby.
Fencing has been placed around the site on Banks Road and local residents have been written to by the contractor, Connell Brothers, informing them an information event is to take place later this month, with the work expected to take up to 12 weeks.
Clearing the site will pave the way for a new-build scheme featuring 13 three-storey townhouses and a two-storey detached house on the split site. There will be one parking space per property, accessed from Ashton Drive.
Over a four-year period, Wirral Council’s planning committee rejected applications to develop the site three times following objections from local residents opposed to the scale, design and the impact on parking.
There were also concerns about the homes being made available for private sale rather than social housing, and the amount of money the developer was putting towards affordable homes on other schemes.
However, the properties were given the green light by a government-appointed planning inspector in 2020. He concluded the objections “would not result in a level of harm that would justify dismissal of the appeal” and also threw out the other concerns.
In a statement, Magenta Living told West Kirby Today: “The demolition of Ashton Court, West Kirby is due to begin in March 2023.
“Resident consultation has commenced, and Magenta Living is holding a wider public information event later this month. The demolition contractor, Connoll Brothers Ltd, will also be present to discuss the demolition methodology, health & safety arrangements and answer questions residents may have.
“The main development will be tendered later in the year to provide 14 new homes.”
West Kirby Today understands discussions have taken place about the scheme being a ‘mixed tenure’ development, meaning some of the homes could be available for affordable rent, although this has not yet been confirmed.
