Tempers flare as Sefton Park Meadows scheme is revealed

THIS is the first public glimpse of the proposed layout for the controversial up-market housing and luxury apartments on Sefton Park Meadows.

Showing more than 50 new homes on the site, it was displayed at a five-hour drop-in session last night at the Greenbank Academy.

It illustrates "a run of dwellings along Queens Drive and Mossley Hill Drive facing Sefton Park, which reflect the existing Victorian development surrounding the Park in terms of layout, scale and aspect."

The city council's cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, was involved in an angry verbal exchange as he walked through a line of protesters with banners who stood outside the academy.

Tempers were raised as insults were fired at Cllr Kennedy who retorted with his own verbal attack.

Around 150 people visited the session, prepared by heavyweight London PR company Lexington on behalf of developers Redrow which is owned by Garston-born Steve Morgan.

Some visitors to the event were critical that there were no council officials or Mayor Anderson himself present to listen to concerns from local people.

Cllr Kennedy responded: “This was not a council event, it was organised by the developers. The council will give people the opportunity to make comments when a planning application is submitted.”

This sort of thing, described as 'typical modern boxes' by one viewer, but 'bigger'

He said he was attending the event as an observer to learn for himself what Redrow wants to do with the site.

Information displays by Redrow indicated a timetable showing work could start in early 2015 if planning permission for the housing development is granted by the council.

Protesters, however, have vowed to fight the application and demand it is called in by Eric Pickles’ Department for Communities and Local Government.

Redrow says it intends to retain Park Avenue as a roadway through the site which will have a mix of four, five and six bedroomed houses, as well as blocks of two; or three bedroom apartments." The firm also promises “the retention of all trees, where possible”.

One person leaving the event didn’t share Redrow’s enthusiasm for the proposals.

“The type of houses shown look nothing like the beautiful Victorian villas surrounding the park. They are typical modern boxes, yes bigger than the usual new houses, a million miles from the villas,” he said.

Redrow's design is intended to reflect these Victorian villas on Sefton Park

Others described the event as a PR exercise, though visitors were given the opportunity by the staff present to comment on the proposals.

Redrow’s collection of “executive” homes feature some costing well over £1m, in line with Mayor Anderson’s aspiration to attract high-flying executives to live in the city.