The Merseyside village of Aintree is set to welcome a brand-new ‘net zero carbon’ apartment complex – thought to be the first of its kind in the area.
The construction outfit SDA Architecture, based locally in the Wirral, has secured planning permission for the build from Sefton Council, with grounds to be broken on the £3 million project later in 2022.
Aintree is perhaps best known for its racecourse, which is the site of the Grand National each year. The three-day festival attracts huge crowds and is a considerable contributor to the local economy. Some 70,000 are expected to descend on the racecourse for this year’s edition, and they will be cheering on the likes of Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work – the 9/1 favourite in the betting odds for Grand National 2022 – and the BobbyJo Chase victor Any Second Now.
? 78 horses remain in the 2022 Randox Grand National ?
Chris's Dream, last year's winner Minella Times, and Cheltenham Festival ace Delta Work now top the weights for the £1million showpiece on April 9
View a full list below ? @AintreeRaces
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 22, 2022
There are some fascinating storylines that the Aintree crowd will watch unfold first-hand. The Gigginstown House Stud could become the most decorated ownership team in Grand National history if any one of their nine declared horses prevails, while J.P. McManus could join them on three victories if any of his 12 entries—including defending champion Minella Times and Any Second Now—take the tape in first place.
Rachael Blackmore, meanwhile, could break new ground in a career already laden with success. She could become the first jockey since Jim Culloty 20 years ago to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season.
Owning an apartment overlooking Aintree clearly comes with many advantages.
A Room with a View
To get the project greenlit, SDA Architecture were required to come up with blueprints that “responded positively to the character, form and local distinctiveness of the site’s immediate surroundings, without undermining the operation of the racecourse”.
The new five-storey apartment block will overlook the parade ring of Aintree Racecourse, and the cladding used in the construction will be inspired by the jockey’s silks of former Grand National champions.
The complex will feature a mix of one and two-bedroom properties and secured under-croft parking, with the building itself constructed using state-of-the-art, energy-efficient materials. These include structurally insulated panels that offer a higher level of thermal performance while saving time during construction, helping to minimise the environmental impact of the work.
“It’s been a privilege for our team to bring forward these plans for a new development adjacent to perhaps the most famous racecourse in the world." https://t.co/9jh37x1VJj
— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchonews) March 23, 2022
The project has been overseen by SDA Architecture Director Barrie Rea, who was looking forward to the plans “adjacent to perhaps the most famous racecourse in the world” coming to fruition.
“Our designs reflect the rich history of Aintree and the Grand National and are also sympathetic to what is required of new apartment developments,” Rea said. “We’re thrilled that our planning application was approved by Sefton Council.”
The new complex should be in place in time for the 2023 Grand National, affording those who snap up one of the properties a perfect vantage point to watch the action unfold.
Image provided by Mathew Schwartz from Unsplash.
