More than 250 houses will be built on the site of a former sports centre in Kirkby that once formed part of Everton’s plans for a stadium in the town.
The housing development, approved by Knowsley Council’s planning committee last night, will see 266 homes built on the site in Whitefield Drive that has been empty since the Kirkby Sports Centre was demolished in 2007.
Described by planning officer Lee Osborne as “an innovatively designed residential development on a gateway site”, the scheme will provide 221 affordable homes with the other 45 being for private rent.
The homes will be built by energy company Engie, which has teamed up with social landlord Your Housing for the project.
Ryan James, Engie’s development manager, told councillors last night: “We are extremely confident that these new homes will assist new residents into the housing market.”
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Councillors unanimously backed the scheme, with cabinet member Jayne Aston saying: “I very much welcome this development and in particular it’s nice to see the level of affordable housing, which is very welcome and, I think, much needed.”
Some residents, however, objected to the proposals. In two letters received by planners, neighbours said the area was one of the few public open spaces left in the town and should be kept as a park or playing fields.
Since the sports centre was demolished 13 years ago, the site has been left vacant while Knowsley Council has tried to secure its redevelopment.
Part of the site had been earmarked for a bus station in the unsuccessful redevelopment plan that would have seen Everton FC move to a new stadium in Kirkby.
However, that plan was rejected by the government in 2009 and this is the first proposal to come forward for the site since then.
