How much more of Ormskirk heritage will disappear before the town loses all sense of its identity?

It's a relevant question given the news that the former Cottage hospital site on Hants Lane could soon be bulldozed if proposed plans by its site owner are given the green light.

QLocal Ormskirk's busy reporter Roger Blaxall took these photos of the derelict site last night with the former Ormskirk College buildings facing demolition after the Borough Council’s ill-fated Local Plan proposals were axed.

The owner of the vacant buildings had hoped to convert the site into housing, but says this is impossible under existing rules and says there is no alternative to demolition.

Under the now-axed Local Plan proposals, the site would have been designated for housing, but, with those proposals now discarded after public outcry, owner Gerry O’Brien of Burscough says the uncertainty surrounding the future means it is unsustainable to continue paying business rates for an unused property.

Amid vandalism and trespass https://ormskirk.qlocal.co.uk/ormski..._-55036543.htm) he's been attempting to renovate the site for two years, most recently by proposing to convert it into apartments, which he argues is the only financially viable prospect.

However, he says that pre-application talks with the council have repeatedly concluded that such an application would be rejected, due to the site’s allocation as employment land. With no change likely to happen soon, Mr O’Neill argues he can no longer fund the 'huge costs' associated with the site, part of which was originally built as the Cottage Hospital, and wants to demolish the former college and replace it with purpose-built employment space.

An application submitted to the council states: “The protracted nature of the process has not only become an expensive wait, but the site has become an eyesore to local residents, due to its long-term derelict state.

"Not only does the client receive regular complaints from the public, but we are aware that the council have also received complaints about the site’s unsightly nature.

"The site has been a target for anti-social behaviour, resulting in client having to employ on-site guards to prevent the site’s security from being compromised.

"There is no longer any requirement for a college in the area, and so the buildings cannot be used for this purpose. The current land allocation would allow industrial use, but the buildings are in no way suitable or functional for this purpose.

"Therefore, in order to make the site suitable for its allocated uses, the buildings would need to be demolished and replaced with new use-specific buildings.

"Due to all of the issues outlined above, we see no alternative option but to demolish the buildings."

Ironically, the old RC school next door is still in fine condition after being taken over by Newlands as its wood yard and store many years ago.

surely if enough people object the new plans wont be passed

Originally Posted by jester01

surely if enough people object the new plans wont be passed

Why would the Council refuse to grant approval just because a few people object? The buildings aren't listed, and clearly aren't suitable for a modern employment use, hence why the landowner wants to demolish them.