Preliminary site works and investigations began in August 2024 on the site of the former All Saints RC High School in Southdene, Kirkby, Merseyside, where Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes (BDWH) plan to build 807 new homes. The developers say they will transform the 56-acre plot into a mix of houses, bungalows and apartments.
The ‘Stop the Bulldozers’ campaign, launched by the Kirkby Residents Group in August 2024, opposes the scheme, citing the confirmed presence of asbestos in the soil and the loss of local wildlife habitats. Residents say the land has been used informally as green space for more than a decade and warn the additional population could place extra pressure on nearby GP surgeries and schools.
Developers say remediation strategies and Construction Environmental Management Plans will be used to manage any hazardous materials identified during site investigations and construction. The planning application (Ref: 24/00068/FUL) proposes 81 affordable homes as part of the 807-dwelling scheme and includes an extension to the existing Cherryfield Drive car park to support the town centre.
Council records show the project is part of a longer-term regeneration plan for Kirkby. Knowsley Council and the developers describe the site south of Cherryfield Drive as a key ‘next piece of the jigsaw’ for the town centre; council leaders say the homes are needed to provide housing for younger generations. Many neighbours, however, say the development will remove valuable green space.
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