A planning application (here) has been submitted for the demolition of 1-43 Hoose Court. Hoose Court consists of multiple blocks of flats offering sheltered housing for the elderly. The complex is on Market Street and backs onto Hazel Road and is managed by Wirral Partnership Homes. The block containing flats 1-43 is the road facing one.
When this story broke last year, local MP Stephen Hesford was quoted as saying he would be investigating the demolition plans. I am not aware if anything came of that.
On the submitted forms it is stated that demolition is required as the property is unable to reach New DecentHomes standard as set out by government. The application states:
site is to be landscaped and remaining site is to be serviced by new boiler room contained within a single existing domestic garages within a block of 8 garages.
I wonder what the landscaping will be?
It is not specified if the remaining blocks will also become subject to demolition at some future date.
A suggested start date is 11th January 2010, completing on 26th March, 2010
Living in Chapel Road we have a good neighbour in the self contained flats in Hoose Court beyond our back yard.
We therefore know that Wirral Partnership Homes have recently refurbised the kitchens and bathrooms in the self contained flats in the rear blocks. So I don’t see it that the remaining blocks are likely to be demolished as well in the near future.
Once they have demolished the front blocks we,like you, will be very interested to see what the landscaping will be . . .
Pardon my cynicism, but if the plans for the site really are that it will be landscaped, why on earth has it been necessary to ‘cut down a tree or two’ in the course of demolishing the unwanted buildings?
Could the trees not have been left to grow, and incorporated into the landscaping plan?
I asked that very question of the council officer responsible for the site, the response I got was,
“The two trees that have been removed were required for access to safely demolish the building”
The council officer also went on to say “Wirral Partnership Homes have plans to bring in their own professional landscapers on completion of the demolition and I understand there are plans to soft landscape and replace the felled trees”
Further to this I have seen this week in the weekly freebie throw away papers there was an article stating that Wirral Partnership Homes “is planning to ask local people how they would like the block’s fomer site to be ‘soft-landscaped’ ”
So I guess it is time to get our thinking caps on . . .
To me a landscaped ared that could also be used as a temporary ‘Market Square’ for farmer’s markets or similar events to the very successful Food Fayres they have had at the Parade [local community centre] would add something positive to the district. The site is on Market Street afterall ! and a focus point at this end of the main high street that is also directly opposite an existing car park could help increase ‘footfall’ for the local retail businesses