Developer Blueoak Estates secures planning consent for £14m luxury apartments complex on the site of a former Liverpool city region fire station. Tony McDonough reports
Blueoak Estates will build a luxury apartments complex on the site of a former fire station in Wirral.
In September 2022 Wirral Council initially turned down the application by Blueoak to build 32 one, two and three-bed apartments on the site for the former fire station in West Kirby.
The fire station closed in 2016 due to budget cuts with a replacement later built in Saughall Massie. Wirral Council said the site was designated for commercial or social infrastructure.
However, Blueoak Estates has now secured approval at the second attempt. Managing director Iain MacLean said: ““The site is in an incredibly central location and as with all our homes, will be of an outstanding quality.
“The range of sizes available means that these apartments will appeal to a broad audience.
““We’ve worked incredibly hard to create a design that would not only fit well aesthetically with the surrounding environment, but to ultimately bring a considerable amount of quality homes to this popular town, whilst reducing development pressure on green belt land.
The site is in an incredibly central location and as with all our homes, will be of an outstanding quality – the range of sizes available means that these apartments will appeal to a broad audience.
We’re very pleased to receive planning approval and are now looking forward to beginning work on the site later this year which we believe will be a catalyst for further regeneration of this popular suburban area.”
In April Blueoak launched its latest high-end apartment scheme in Wirral. Estuary View on Meol’s Parade in Hoylake is currently under construction. It comprises eight luxury apartments that offer uninterrupted views across the Dee Estuary to North Wales.
And in the last few days the developer has reported an “unprecedented level of interest” in another luxury apartment scheme in Chester.
Grade II-listed Christleton Hall was built in 1750 and was originally used as a private residence and later as a boarding school. From 1974 to 2021 it was one of the causes of the University of Law.
Now Blueoak is redeveloping the building to provide 14 apartments. Phase one has been released for sale with prices beginning at £315,000.