A former church hall dating back to the 1800s in Tuebrook is to be demolished to make way for accommodation for homeless young people.
A planning application has been submitted to Liverpool Council to provide 24-bed supported living accommodation at the currently vacant church hall on New Road. Should the proposals be accepted, the service would be operated by YMCA Together and Local Solutions to support young people aged between 16-21 in need of housing.
According to a YMCA Together management plan, many of the young people who will be accommodated “will not be in employment, education, or training, and can be at risk of exploitation. The service will provide high quality wrap-around support focusing on empowering young people, developing their life skills through a bespoke skills programme, and preparing them for successful and sustainable independent living.”
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Documents submitted with the application said the brick-built former church building dates to 1890 and was designed to accommodate a congregation of 250 people. It has been vacant for some time and has been stripped back to brick in places.
The accommodation would be provided in en-suite bedrooms located over three floors. The residents would be in situ for around 12 months to provide support and independent living, with four bedrooms situated on the ground floor and 10 each on the first and second storeys.
The application said a first floor level extension and alterations both inside and outside the building were required to bring the building into a condition fit for housing. It said: “The existing open-plan layout will be altered to create living accommodation and support staff facilities.
“The main rooms dedicated to providing care and support are located on the ground floor. These include a one-to-one consulting room, group therapy/activity room and office.
“In addition, a kitchen/dining room, store, WC and bin storage are proposed at ground floor level.” Windows will be added to the outside of the building but are said to not impact the privacy of neighbouring properties.
The planning statement, sent by Landor Planning Consultants on behalf of applicants INM & MZH Properties, said the application met relevant planning policies. A design and access statement said the plans would “bring a dilapidated building back into use as modern residential accommodation.”
A date has not been set at this stage for the proposals to be heard by Liverpool Council’s planning committee. Comments can be made on the application on the local authority’s planning website until September 20.
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