Local residents to have say on Melwood housing plans

Residents in West Derby will have the chance to air their views on plans for new housing at Liverpool Football Club‘s Melwood training ground.

The Premier League giant is leaving the site in favour of merging its first-team and academy training facilities at Simonswood Lane in Kirkby.

Melwood will be sold off for a residential development comprising 160 family homes under the plans and West Derby councillors Cllr Pam Thomas, Cllr Daniel Barrington and Cllr Lana Orr as well as Cllr Tony Concepcion, Cllr Barbara Murray and Cllr John Prince of the Yew Tree ward have assured their constituents that they will have a say on the proposals.

A joint statement from the councillors reads: “Having had a very constructive meeting with Liverpool FC we understand their reasons for wanting to move from Melwood but we also know any future development of the site will have a big impact on the local community and their views need to be fully heard.

“The club have assured us that there will be a public consultation before any planning permission is sought and that is the right approach, as we saw with the recent development at Anfield. As ward councillors we will ensure residents will be fully engaged at every step. Questions around traffic congestion, parking, over development, loss of green space and school places all need to be answered and we will continue to speak with the club on these matters.”

Liverpool’s academy is already based at Simonswood Lane but the new plans, which have been drawn up in partnership with Knowsley Council, will see it undergo a £50 million redevelopment to cater for the senior squad.

Local residents in the borough are invited to have their say on the proposals at a public consultation event on Wednesday 8 March at Northwood Community Centre between 2pm and 8pm.

If you would like to speak to one of the team please call us on 0151 256 0880 or email us at westderby@belvoir.co.uk