City heritage landmark set to be converted into apartments and new houses

One of the city’s heritage landmarks is set to be redeveloped for new homes.

The former Ogden’s Tobacco Factory site in Everton is to be converted into flats and houses after planning chiefs rubber-stamped an application today.

The listed office building of the former factory, on Boundary Lane and West Derby Road, is to be converted into 19 flats, with 133 new houses built on the rest of the 3.4 hectare site.

Simon Pemberton, representing the applicants Countryside Properties and Liverpool Mutual Homes, told the planning meeting that they had sought to “retain some of the history of the site”.

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Ogdens office building was listed in 2007, the same year the site ceased trading.

Facing onto Boundary Lane, the offices feature a clock and spire, described as landmarks of the area in planning documents.

However, the water tower and chimney structures on the site were not listed and the proposed demolition of them and other structures has led to concern from heritage groups.

Historic England have welcomed the conversion of the office building, but the Victorian Society and Council for British Archeology have both called for the retention of at least another part of the complex.

At the Liverpool town hall planning meeting heritage campaigner Florence Gersten asked the committee to delay their decision to see if the chimney and water tower could be saved.

She said: “A few raised hands could consign this piece of history to the bulldozer.”

But chair of the planning committee John McIntosh said it had taken years for a viable plan to develop the site.

He said: “I am very happy about this, it will bring much needed new houses to that area.”

Since 2007 efforts to find a new industrial use for the site have failed.

The committee members approved the proposals, which will see a range of houses including a mix of 70 two-bed, 53 three-bed and 10 four-bed two-storey properties.

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