Residential developer Lovell Partnerships plans to build 115 new homes on a Wirral site close to the River Mersey that is currently earmarked for industrial development. Tony McDonough reports

Residential developer Lovell Partnerships has submitted plans to Wirral Council to build 115 new homes close to the River Mersey.

Lovell had identified a 7.5-acre site next to Port Sunlight River Park where it would like to build 115 two, three and four-bedroom homes in a multi-million pound project. 42 of the homes would be available for affordable rent (no more than 80% of local market rents).

Located off Dock Road North and also close to Bromborough Dock, the site is designated as suitable for industrial development in Wirral Council’s unitary development plan.

However, the authority has had little success in attracting industrial developers to the location, despite embarking on a “comprehensive marketing exercise”. It is open to allowing residential development on the site.

This site is close to both Port Sunlight Village and Bebington which is regarded as one of the most desirable places in the UK to live. This is due to it being relatively affordable, well connected by road and rail and enjoying a good level of local amenities.

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In June this year developer Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales told LBN it was ready to press ahead with its plan to build 125 new homes on part of the site of the Unilever research complex in Bebington.

Anwyl acquired the eight-acre site from consumer products giant Unilever late last year. It forms part of the company’s current research and development complex and was put up for sale in 2020.

Hundreds of scientists and support staff work in the world-renowned facility in Bromborough Road, which is separate from the main personal care products factory nearby. The R&D site is in Bebington, just outside Port Sunlight village.