Flats to replace former builders and gym
AFORMER builders merchants and bathroom showroom will be demolished to make way for flats. Planning permission was last week granted for the Hunter and Sons warehouse at Moorgate, Ormskirk, to be knocked down and replace with 31 homes.
The development will see two fourstorey blocks being built on the site, with the homes built for residential use rather than as student accommodation. At a planning committee meeting last Thursday, it was stated that Jigsaw Homes was now involved and hope that all of the flats could be offered as social housing.
The site, bounded by Moorgate, Bridge Street and the Merseyrail railway line, was previously occupied by Hunters Builders Merchants and Bathroom Showroom and has since been home to a gym, exercise rooms and beauty salon as well as a bar.
According to the application, ,numerous businesses have struggled to make a success at the site and the owner had expected that Unite Fitness would not renew its lease.
The building had been listed for sale for almost £1m, while plans for 24 flats in two blocks were submitted last year and recommended for approval, only to be withdrawn by the applicant.
Now, new plans have been lodged with an increased number of homes in taller buildings and the applicant argued that the change of use from employment to residential can be justified by the conversion of council office buildings to flats opposite the site.
The planning application states: “The proposed design would greatly enhance and maintain the character and appearance of the area and the surrounding existing buildings and greatly improve the application site.”