Split decision on homes in town built on soap

David Ward
Thursday August 4, 2005

from the Guardian

A developer has lost one long-running battle to build new homes in Port Sunlight, the garden village founded by a soap tycoon, but won another.
Following a planning inquiry in June, the inspector, Richard Ogier, upheld a decision by Wirral council on Merseyside to turn down a scheme for 19 town houses and 76 apartments on a site in the village famed worldwide for its domestic buildings and open spaces.

But Mr Ogier overturned the council's refusal to permit 48 apartments on the site of derelict offices elsewhere.

Both schemes had been promoted by the Port Sunlight Village Trust, the body charged with the management of the village, to raise cash to conserve and maintain properties. But the plans were fiercely opposed by residents.

Port Sunlight was founded in 1888 by William Hesketh Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, to house workers at his new soap factory in a style far removed from urban slums.

He later added the Lady Lever art gallery to house his picture collection, which included some fine pre-Raphaelites.

Mr Ogier said the first scheme, in which Miller Homes would have developed a site at Wharf Street, "would be perceived as an uncomfortable introduction of a different architectural theme".

But he supported the scheme for apartments at Wood Street.

"The trust is delighted that its appeal in respect of Wood Street has been upheld," said Lionel Bolland, the trust's chief executive. "The 48 apartments permitted will prove to be a very significant step in achieving the eventual financial independence of the trust.

"Trustees were, however, very disappointed that after working so long and so hard with so many agencies, the opportunity of securing a cohesive design solution for the long derelict area of Wharf Street has now apparently gone.

"The trust will continue to work as ever with the long term interests of Port Sunlight foremost in everyone's minds."

The Port Sunlight Residents and Conservation Society opposed both schemes at the public inquiry, saying the "factory style" apartments at Wharf Street were more suited to a city centre than a garden village.

"We are delighted with the decision on the Wharf Street proposal and the fact that the inspector acknowledged the importance of the views of local people," said Steve Thomas for the society.

But he said residents were still concerned about the Wood Street plan.