Architects take on village buildings masterplan

Wirral charity Autism Together appoints architects to draw up masterplan for redevelopment and restoration of three Grade II-listed buildings in Wirral. Tony McDonough reports

Chris Cullen and Angie Kemp of Autism Together at the Enterprise Centre in Bromborough

Wirral charity Autism Together is to embark on a major restoration project for three Grade II-listed buildings in Wirral.

In 2023, Riverside Housing gifted the three buildings in historic Bromborough Pool Village to the charity. They included the village’s former school (now called the Enterprise Centre), Giles Shirley Hall and the former St Matthew’s Church building.

After taking over the sites Autism Together asked the local community about their use of the village and what changes and improvements they would like to see. Following that process it has appointed architects Paddock Johnson to design a masterplan.

As part of this five-year plan the Enterprise Centre will see repairs to its exterior stonework, followed by a sympathetic reconfiguring of the building’s layout to provide a beneficial environment for the people the charity supports.

This will encompass a sensory pod, improved kitchen and welfare facilities, plus an accessible all-weather courtyard area with glazed roof.

There will be a multi-functional space for use by up to 50 people, which would be available to book – free of charge – by community groups for events at evenings and weekends, increasing public access and use.

Bromborough Pool Village was created as a model village for the workers at Prices Candles, and pre-dates nearby Port Sunlight.

Angie Kemp, Autism Together’s director of business development, said: “Following a community consultation in 2023, Autism Together appointed heritage-approved architects Paddock Johnson to design a master plan for the new buildings and land.

“This masterplan shows the exciting future potential of the area, which will benefit Autism Together’s day services operating from these buildings, and also the wider village and community as a whole.”

Another planned change will be to improve parking, by replanning the existing car park area which sits adjacent to the charity-run Bromborough Pool Café & Shop, to create a one-way system with drop-off area.

Former St Matthew’s Church in Bromborough Pool now owned by Autism Together

And it will also include changes to benefit the autistic adults who access Autism Together’s services within the village. This will include internal development within the church building to create a multipurpose space, and a rezoning of the garden.

The latter redesign would provide a range of new activities, including sensory pods, an exercise zone with sunken trampolines, an all-weather track for cycling, and outdoor gym equipment.

There are also plans for an enhanced area to house the small animals that reside on site – rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens. And a Community Growing Space will allow the local community to adopt small plots of land to grow items.

Chris Cullen, Autism Together’s director of estates and facilities, added: “We plan to raise more than £400,000 in funding for the Enterprise Centre’s exterior work alone, ensuring this beautiful structure, which holds many memories for the local community, remains an important part of the village.”

Autism Together was founded in 1968 and provides residential, supported living and day services to more than 400 autistic adults, and support to many more families through its services in Wirral and West Cheshire.

Find out more about the Bromborough Pool Village Project via the Autism Together website by clicking here.

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