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Famous Wallasey landmark
saved from bulldozers
A historic Wallasey landmark will be
saved and converted to modern apartments after a last minute rescue package was
agreed by the Council and developers.
Andrew Gibson House, a former home for retired seafarers on Seabank Road,
Wallasey, had been threatened with demolition after previous owners Nautilus
Welfare Trust said it no longer met the requirements of their residents.
Wirral Council stepped in and, in partnership with developers Prospect Capital,
has found a solution that will see the building renovated into attractive
apartments next to an all new residential development and a dedicated base for
the mariner's charity.
The move guarantees the future of a cherished piece of East Wirral's maritime
heritage, which has been empty for more than a decade.
Cllr Adrian Jones, Wirral Council's Cabinet Member for Resources, Finance,
Assets and Technology said:- "I am delighted to be able to say that,
working in partnership with the developers and owners of this historic site,
we've found a solution that works for every party including, importantly, the
local residents.
Residents have been telling us that they want to see the building saved. The
development will provide new housing, new investment and a new home for some of
our most vulnerable local people, in line with the pledges we've made as part of
our 2020 Vision for Wirral."
A planning application is due to be submitted before the end of the summer for
the project.
A spokesperson for Nautilus Welfare Trust explained:- "This is a great
result and a win, win solution that saves the building and provides us with the
brand new accommodation we need. Wirral Council have played a key role releasing
additional land that enables us to deliver a commercially sustainable
development that subsidises the cost of refurbishing what is a very striking,
but extremely challenging heritage building."
Prospect Capital Managing Director Craig Blackwell explained:- "As someone
born and brought up in the area I really wanted to see this building saved. It's
such an important piece of shared history and is really cherished by people in
the area because of its architecture and what it signifies in terms of the
area's maritime heritage. There was a fantastic amount of good will from
Nautilus and Wirral Council and together we have come up with a solution that
saves the building and works for all parties."
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