New homes plan close to Ashworth psychiatric hospital

Land close to Ashworth Hospital may be sold off for a housing development.
The plans, for the site at Parkbourn, in Maghull, are being proposed by Mersey Care, which currently uses the area for office space.



It was previously used for housing doctors and nurses at the high security psychiatric hospital.
Up to 300 homes could be built, predominantly family housing, but also including a number of apartments, also close to Kennet prison.

The Trust said it hopes to see a “sustainably, high-quality safe community that integrates with the surrounding area” and that using the land would save the need to build on greenbelt land. The cash brought in from the sale of the site will also allow Mersey Care to invest more in local health services.

If Mersey Care is granted outline permission for the development, a further detailed application will be put forward by the as yet unnamed developer. A Mersey Care spokesman said: “We are informing the local community and interested stakeholder groups of our proposals for Parkbourn ahead of submitting a planning application for the development.

“As part of this process we will be holding a consultation event. This will provide anyone who is interested with the opportunity to discuss the proposal with the Mersey Care Trust staff development team and to ask any questions about the scheme.”

Consultation events will be held on Friday, from 2pm to 8pm, and on Saturday between 10am and 2pm, at the Hornby Room, Meadows Leisure Centre, Hall Lane, Maghull.