Demolition of former Unilever R&D buildings in Wirral is under way after the consumer products giant sold part of the site to make way for 127 new homes the building of which will begin this summer. Tony McDonough reports
Demolition work has started on what was part of the R&D facility of consumer products giant Unilever in Wirral.
In October 2024 Unilever completed the sale of the nine-acre plot to housebuilder Anwyl Homes which plans to build 127 new homes. Anwyl first applied for planning permission in 2022 and secured consent in August 2024.
Unilever first put the land up for sale in 2020. It forms part of the company’s R&D facility on Quarry Road East which is separated from its Port Sunlight factory complex by a road and a railway line.
Hundreds of scientists and support staff are employed at the site. One of the buildings to be demolished includes a 230,000 sq ft office and laboratory facility.
However, other buildings in the complex, including the Manufacturing Technology Centre and the recently built Advanced Manufacturing Centre, are not affected by the sale. Unilever will use proceeds from the sale to reinvest in the facilities.
As part of the planning agreement, the local community will benefit from around £677,000 of contributions, including more than £330,000 to enhance public open space and play provision in the neighbourhood.
This development will comprise a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom designs, including 25 affordable properties. Affordable means no more than 80% of local market rate.
Anwyl has told LBN that work is expected to start in April on the roads and services with the first foundations being laid in the summer. The company will look to start marketing the homes later in the year.
It will be called Lottie Gardens, in tribute to Bebington-born sportswoman Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Dod (1871 to 1960) a celebrated five-time Wimbledon tennis champion, Olympic silver medal-winning archer and national golf champion.
There is a blue plaque commemorating Lottie on a gate in nearby Church Road which leads to a private care home adjacent to the Unilever site.
At the time of the sale Phil Dolan, chief operating officer for Anwyl, said: “We’re excited to bring forward this brownfield site for redevelopment to provide much-needed market and affordable homes in a sustainable location.
“We’ve carefully designed our homes to ensure they are in keeping with the character of the surrounding community, while boasting high levels of energy efficiency, with top specification insulation and solar panels.
“We’ll also be retaining the woodland on site and creating a new footpath link to St Andrews Road.”
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The venture in Bebington is the developer’s first project in Wirral to deliver private sale homes. Anwyl hopes to launch sales at Lottie Gardens in spring / summer 2025.
Under the planning consent’s section 106 agreement, Anwyl will make community contributions totalling £677,000. The majority of the £330,000 public open space contribution will go towards upgrades at the nearby Mayer Park play area.
Funds from Anwyl will also be directed by Wirral Council towards improvements at Dibbins Hey play area. Almost £150,000 will be used to improve playing pitches and facilities at Higher Bebington Playing Fields.