Government approval means work can begin to save Wirral waterfront landmark

Work has started to save and restore one of Wirral’s architectural gems following a decision by the Secretary of State for Transport to approve the rerouting and improvement of a public footpath.The campaign to save the historic Andrew Gibson House, part of the Mariner’s Park Estate on the Wallasey Waterfront, was supported by local politicians, heritage campaigners and a public petition with more than 6,000 signatures.It appeared the battle had been won when plans by local developer Prospect Capital and backed by former owners the Nautilus Welfare Fund – a local registered charity serving necessitous seafarers and their dependants – to convert the former home for the widows of retired seafarers into apartments were unanimously backed by Wirral Council’s planning committee in 2018.However, work was stalled due to legal delays processing an application to reroute the footpath running across the development site.The project included a fully DDA-compliant new path with an additional public footway linking Blenheim Road directly to Egremont Promenade, but the application to reroute the public footpath from Maddock Road to Blenheim Road was opposed by two residents.The initial application process was aborted due to the COVID-19 lockdown, with the new application finally approved earlier this month.The decision was welcomed by the seafarers’ charity, the Nautilus Welfare Fund, the former owners of the site, who will be providing a new purpose-built apartment scheme as part of the wider Gibson Park development.Wirral Council has played a key role working with Prospect Capital and Nautilus to facilitate the project, by providing additional land to accommodate some of the enabling new development. Local councillors, including Council Leader Janette Williamson, also played an active role in the campaign to save Andrew Gibson House.Cllr Janette Williamson, said: “Andrew Gibson House has a unique place in our local maritime history and I’m sure many in the local community will welcome the move to bring this site back into use and protect such an historic building.”Concerns were raised that the delay to restoration work caused by the footpath determination process might lead to a further deterioration in the structural condition of Andrew Gibson House.Local MP Angela Eagle, and influential conservation organisation Save Britain’s Heritage, were amongst those who lobbied the Secretary of State for Transport to approve the application to divert the path and allow restoration work to start.The first phase of work will see the restoration of Andrew Gibson House and four detached new homes on land adjacent to the main building.The subsequent phases, including the new accommodation block for Nautilus, will commence following the completion of the restoration.