A campaign has been launched to stop a development that has been dubbed a “disaster” by concerned residents.
Community leaders and people living in and around Beech Court, Allerton, have expressed their concerns at a proposal to construct an additional storey on the existing building to provide nine new flats.
Applicant Rachmarc Properties is seeking to add the properties on a new floor above the current three storey building that consists of 30 two bed flats.
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A packed community meeting was held at the Allerton United Reformed Church on Mather Avenue last month with a website - SaveBeechCourt.com set up in a bid to thwart the construction that is seeking sign off from Liverpool Council’s planning committee.
According to the application submitted to Liverpool Council by Peter Hamilton planning consultancy on behalf of RachMarc Properties, the proposed development would include one two bed and eight further one bed apartments on top of the current block of flats.
A supporting statement submitted as part of the application outlines that the one bed flats “are designed with a study/office space to provide accommodation for occupiers to work from home.”
Concerned resident Paul Riley said the proposed development is “ridiculous” and should not go ahead.
He said: “The parking here is already horrendous and you’re talking about a further nine to 18 cars coming on.
“It’s ridiculous. There’s a very narrow entrance anyway and with nine new apartments, it’ll be even worse, it’s crazy.
“It’ll be looking over all the houses as it gets taller, it’s just a disaster. People have been living here for years and they’re up in arms.”
Members of the community gathered at Allerton United Reformed Church in January to voice their opposition to the construction plans.
Cllr Liz Makinson was one of those present who supported residents in their efforts.
She said: “This will cause considerable disruption to the residents themselves.
“There’s already parking and traffic issues in that area and this will only exacerbate that.
“It’s going to further increase the size of the building and it goes totally against the streetscape.
“We’ve offered our support to the residents and when local people feel so strongly about something, it shouldn’t just be nodded through.”
SaveBeechCourt.com has also been set up to keep residents updated on developments surrounding the application with a further meeting date to be arranged and the election of an action group committee.
Cllr Richard Kemp, who attended January’s meeting, said the proposed new flats would represent “overdevelopment” of the site and expressed concerns about the strength of the existing building to support a new storey.
According to the application’s supporting statement, a structural assessment of the building identified that an additional block could be added using lightweight materials such as timber-frame without exceeding the capacity of loadbearing walls.
The building’s pre-cast concrete roof, dating back more than 60 years, will be replaced and the construction of the new storey would mitigate this issue, it said.
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