In November 2000, planning permission was granted for the conversion of the former Liverpool District Lighting Company's generating station building in Sandfield Road - more recently used as a bedroom furniture factory - into 7 residential apartments. Demolition work was undertaken - involving the removal of the unsightly postwar extensions - and roof repairs were carried out, but the conversion itself never happened.
Now an amended application has been submitted, this time for only 5 flats. The drawings - two of which are reproduced below, courtesy of the architects, Arkheion - indicate that the blank south elevation of the building is to be part clad in opaque-glass panels, while the west elevation will also be given a 'modern' look, though the main elevation on Sandfield Road - which bears the date 1898 - will retain its original Victorian appearance. The landscaping plans show a total of 6 off-street car parking spaces, along with rectangular lawned areas and a 'reflecting pool'.
The full set of plans is available for inspection at Millennium House, Victoria Street - Ref.06F/0033 - and any comments should be sent to Mrs S Campbell in the Planning and Building Control Department, Liverpool City Council, Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2DH by the closing date, 2nd February 2006.

In October 2005, revised plans were submitted for 10 flats on the site of Michael Taylor's garage premises at 167-169 Grange Lane. We had objected to the previous application (in April) on the grounds of inadequate parking provision - 13 spaces for 10 flats - though we had broadly welcomed the design and materials proposed. In the event, planning permission was refused, as reported in our July 2005 Newsletter. In the case of the revised scheme, we objected to virtually every aspect. It comprised two flat-roofed blocks - which we felt would be totally out of keeping with the Conservation Area - and only 6 parking spaces. In our view, this confirmed that the site is simply not large enough to accommodate ten dwellings. Once again, planning permission has been refused.