FRESH plans have been drawn up to build homes and redevelop a social club to save its future.

Plans have been drawn up to create houses and to demolish and revamp Greenalls Sports and Social Club on Alder Hey Road, Eccleston.

The club has been a long-term part of the community and was a popular meeting point for fans on Saints matchdays in the days of Knowsley Road.

Last year, proposals for homes at the site and a renovation of the club were knocked back by council planners.

Objections had been submitted with regards to the loss of of the bowling green.

In rejecting the plans, planning officers said no noise assessment had taken place and previous plans had not demonstrated sufficient off street parking.

In rejecting the houses, planning officers added this would result in the loss of a protected open space, the bowling green and car park.

In the new plans, three separate applications have been drawn up.

One is for the partial demolition of the existing games room and lounge bar area of the club and the creation of a new single-storey side and rear extension and front canopy, along with the creation of 37 parking spaces.

Another is for eight semi-detached homes at the site and the other application for another four semi-detached houses and one detached home.

Plans state that Greenalls has "formed an integral part of this part of the borough for many years".

They say the structure of the club and its internal decoration has "dated considerably", meaning that the building requires "considerable maintenance, along with ever increasing utilities expenses".

Plans add: "it is also recognised by the club that membership has dwindled in the past few years, both in terms of the users of the club and the users of the bowling green facility, thereby resulting in a significant loss of income".

They state: "Unfortunately, the conclusion of that thought process is that some of the land that the club has within its ownership must be considered as a redevelopment opportunity, so as to provide an income stream to protect the long term viability of the club. Alternatively, and on current budgets, it is highly likely that the club and its facilities will have to close".

On the proposed loss of the bowling green, a statement in the plans says: "Whilst the bowling green was once a hive of activity this can no longer be said and the number of members wishing to enjoy bowls as a pastime has declined drastically".

It says that the bowling green has around 30 people using it, short of the 60 recommended by Bowls England to support a green.

It adds: "We recognise that this action means a loss of the bowler’s amenity and as a committee we felt we had a moral obligation to find them a suitable facility at least equal to those on offer at Greenalls".

The statement adds he Greenalls committee has made enquires with bowling clubs within close proximity of the club "who showed that they were all willing to take on new members".

The new plans have received letters of support. One states: "The situation now with COVID-19 has highlighted how much we would miss this facility if it were to close".

Plans are on public consultation until Monday, June 8.