Breathing new life into Liscard Hall

HISTORIC Liscard Hall could be set for a new lease of life.

Wirral News Group can reveal Wirral Council is planning to team up with a developer to bring the Grade-II listed building, empty since March 2003, back into use.

A development brief seen by the News describes the hall, which was built in 1835, as a “substantial property with a range of outbuildings in a prime location”.

Prospective developers are told this is “a rare opportunity to utilise a grand mansion set in attractive parkland surroundings”.

The document, which will be considered by cabinet members in the next few weeks, says the property “could combine gracious living accommodation with complementary leisure uses”

Acceptable uses for the hall are listed in order of preference, with the council’s first choice being “self-sustaining community uses” such as a community centre, day nursery or health centre.

Other possible uses are as a gym or sports centre, followed by commercial uses like recording studios, boutique hotel, restaurant or café.

Another option is residential use for a care home or flats but interested developers are told the building is not suitable for “exclusively retail purposes”.

The council plans to retain ownership of the Rose Garden in front of the hall but the chosen developer will be asked to improve it.

Other conditions are that the walled garden must remain accessible to the public, while the nearby park ranger’s office will stay operational within the park.

Bidders are told the house retains much of its original appearance, with some original window frames, internal doors and cornices.

Originally built as a rural home for one-time Lord Mayor of Liverpool Sir John Tobin, Liscard House later became an art school and home to a training charity.

The building has been a target for vandals since becoming empty and bids to turn it into a school or community education centre have failed.

The News understands the proposals have been welcomed by supporters of the hall and councillors, although they were reluctant to discuss them in detail before they are considered by cabinet members.

Liscard councillor Dave Hawkins said: “Previous attempts to find public educational use for the hall were unsuccessful and this left council officers with the task of seeking viable alternatives.”

The Friends of Central Park declined to comment.