Developer Romal Capital wins planning battle with Liverpool City Council over £100m residential scheme at Liverpool Waters. Tony McDonough reports
Romal Capital will press on with its £100m residential scheme at Liverpool Waters after a planning inspector approved its plans.
Earlier this year Liverpool City Council refused planning consent for the 330-apartment project in Central Docks. Romal appealed to the planning inspectorate which has now overturned the council’s decision.
The council had objected on the following grounds:
- Partial infilling and re-development of West Waterloo Dock would have a negative impact on the setting of the adjacent Grade II listed Waterloo Warehouse and Stanley Dock Conservation Area.
- It would “substantially impinge” upon the Cultural Square proposal in the Liverpool Waters masterplan put forward by site owner Peel L&P.
- The scheme comprises too many one-bedroom apartments, going against the council’s own Local Plan for the area.
Greg Malouf, chief executive of Romal Capital, said: “I’m delighted with the appeal outcome and now it’s finally time to move forward to deliver on our promises to deliver the project.
“This development proposal has now gone through a robust process over the past four years with all sides being heard and a decision has been made. We can now move our focus to delivering homes and building a new neighbourhood on what was a derelict site.”
Romal had originally proposed a scheme that would see the construction of 643 apartments at the site but later scaled back the plans. It has already delivered its Quay Central and Park Central developments at Liverpool Waters totaling 237 apartments.
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said the authority was “disappointed” with the decision. They added: “The impact on the historic environment of West Waterloo Dock and the reduction in size of the proposed cultural square are losses to the city that can’t be recouped elsewhere.
“The housing mix for this scheme is also not ideal but the council will work with the developer to ensure the scheme is built to the highest quality. The city council also remains committed to working with Peel to regenerate Liverpool’s northern docks to create outstanding developments that befits a world-class location.”