Octopus Healthcare gets green light for £35m extra care redevelopment

Leading investor Octopus Healthcare has been granted planning approval for an over £35m investment in the redevelopment of extra care accommodation in Southport, Lancashire.

The proposal includes the conversion of the listed former Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children to offer creating 113 extra care apartments and associated facilities, including a bistro, residents’ lounge, library and hair and beauty salon, as well as providing on-site care.

Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, said: “We have worked extremely hard to secure a sustainable and sensitive use for the former school and this application will safeguard such an iconic building in our wonderful borough.

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“The successful application will seek to secure the building’s removal from the council’s listed buildings ‘at risk’ register while also contributing to the removal of West Birkdale conservation area from the national ‘at risk’ register. We look forward to working closely with Octopus Healthcare as they conserve, restore and develop this fantastic site.”

Richard Dooley, Development Director at Octopus Healthcare, added: “The Octopus Healthcare development team have had a busy 18 months working with Sefton Council to get this approval over the line. Being able to breathe new life into this iconic building and really giving it a purpose for the next 100 years is a great achievement. The environment we are trying to create will be a real testament to the future of elderly care.”