Derelict nursery still stands despite demolition order
ADERELICT nursery has been left untouched for years despite plans being approved for it to be knocked down last year.
The building on the corner of Scarisbrick New Road and Chambres Road in Southport is believed to have been left empty for years despite a planning application being approved to turn it into flats. The former nursery school that was converted into a house has been left in a dangerous state.
Home to Kew Preparatory School in the 1950s, the traditional building was mostly used for residential purposes and has been left empty for around four years. It now lies in a crumbling state with the walls and roof covered in holes.
For a number of years, the large driveway of the empty building was filled with waste and damaged cars while the building fell into a state of disrepair.
It’s believed that the man who previously lived there had been allowed to stay there by a friend who had inherited the property but was unable to keep up with the maintenance of the building.
Safety fears were such that in 2014, part of the roof had to be removed amid fears that it was going to fall onto the substation next door.
Eventually, and with the occupier owing significant sums to Sefton Council, the local authority took possession of the building in 2017 and, with the support of the executor of the estate, sold it at auction for a fee believed to be greater than £200,000.
The man who had been living there was served with a notice to leave but, according to the council, did not require assistance from the local authority’s housing service.
Photographs taken by an urban explorer in 2020 showed high piles of books, broken furniture and other items filling the stairway on every floor in the house.
The building is already subject to a demolition order and a planning application was submitted last year to build four semi-detached houses in its place.
Although that application has yet to be submitted, developer North West Homes has had plans to erect a two-storey block of seven flats instead accepted.
The application states: “The scheme will provide much needed residential accommodation on the site of a large house that has been derelict for a number of years.
“The scale and design building reflects the old house as well as the neighbouring buildings, and is compatible in both grain and texture.”
The proposal includes space for 15 cars as well as bicycle parking.
The application was accepted in July 2021, with there being a five year period to begin work.