The Liverpool City Council Planning Committee convened on 9 September 2025, addressing a range of planning applications. The committee approved the construction of an apartment building and detached houses at Beaconsfield Road, approved the closure of a pedestrian access point at Bingle Way, and approved extensions to The Watering Can Cafe in Greenbank Road. They refused applications for residential developments at Parkview Road and Great Mersey Street.

Planning Decisions

Le Mennais, Beaconsfield Road

Application 24F/1683, concerning Le Mennais, Beaconsfield Road, was approved. This allows for the erection of a three-storey apartment building with 18 units and two detached houses, following the demolition of the existing residential building. The approval is subject to a legal agreement and conditions proposed by the Director of Planning and Building Control. The recreational management sum was amended to £5,565.20. Four additional objections were received, echoing concerns already addressed in the committee report, including: intensification of site use, parking and traffic issues, reliance on 'abnormals' in the viability report, lack of affordable housing, loss of green space, and overlooking/privacy concerns. The report clarified that the existing building was a community house for a group of brothers, not a public community centre, and that the level of M4(3) provision¹ is 20%, not 10% as originally stated. The number of trees to be removed was clarified as seven, not 20. The report also clarified the number of parking spaces. An additional condition was added regarding noise levels from any plant not exceeding existing background noise levels, measured at the nearest noise-sensitive premises, according to BS4142:2014². The Section 106 table was amended, detailing costs for open space, trees, monitoring, recreational pressure, biodiversity net gain, and affordable housing.

Land North of Parkview Road

Application 23F/1374, for land north of Parkview Road, was refused. The application sought permission to erect 51 residential dwellings, including 14 houses and two apartment blocks. The Planning Case Officer's assessment recommended refusal. Councillor Anthony Lavelle addressed the committee in support of the application.

Bingle Way

Application 20F/1446, concerning Bingle Way, was approved. This retrospective application sought to close a pedestrian access point approved as part of a residential development. Condition 3 was amended to specify that full details of the gates and keypad must be submitted to and agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority before installation.

Vacant Land between Lancaster Street and Great Mersey Street

Application 23F/0694, concerning vacant land between Lancaster Street and Great Mersey Street, was refused. The application proposed the erection of three buildings containing 56 apartments. Kim Johnson MP for Liverpool Riverside, sent a letter objecting to the application, citing concerns from local residents and the Rotunda community hub regarding increased traffic/parking, lack of affordable housing, overshadowing, negative impact on the area's character (including the listed Rotunda terrace), and negative impact on the natural environment.

The Watering Can Cafe, Greenbank Road

Application 21F/1795, concerning The Watering Can Cafe, Greenbank Road, was approved. This allows for single-storey extensions, an extended pergola terrace, an expanded waste storage area, and landscaping works. A late objection was received from the Friends of Greenbank Park. A condition was added requiring details of the design of the benches to be submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before occupation of the extensions.

Previous Decisions

The committee were informed of comments received from Councillors Sam East and Beverley Kenyon regarding application 25F/0262 for 54-56 Grey Road, which was considered further from a previous meeting. Councillor William Shortall proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Richard Kemp CBE, to defer the item for a site visit, but this was lost. It was recommended that an additional condition be imposed, requiring the applicant to submit details of security measures at the premises before development commences. The original motion to approve the application, subject to the Legal Agreement, Conditions, and the additional security condition, was carried.

Other Matters

The Planning Committee received a letter from Kim Johnson MP objecting to application 23F/0694 for the housing development on Great Mersey Street/Lancaster Street.