Land Between Lancaster Street And Great Mersey Street, Liverpool, L5 2SZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the viability of the proposed development justifies the lack of off-site financial contributions towards affordable housing and green infrastructure

What decided it

The fundamental disagreement over Gross Development Value, combined with the Inspector's finding that additional financial contributions would most likely be viable despite the appellant's viability claims, meant the proposal conflicted with development plan policies requiring affordable housing and green infrastructure contributions.

The significant benefit of 56 sustainably located apartments towards housing need, moderate benefits from 30% wheelchair accessible units and economic benefits, and minor benefits from highways improvements were outweighed by the lack of affordable housing contributions (precluding mixed and balanced communities in perpetuity), loss of green infrastructure, mature trees, biodiversity and local recreation space, and the conflict with development plan policies, particularly given the Council's existing 5-year housing land supply and urgent need for affordable housing.