2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Liam Thorp)
The owners of the land have spoken out about news of the Zoe's Place announcement The owners of the land where soon-to-close Liverpool baby hospice Zoe's Place is based have spoken out about news of the facility's announcement that it will close before the end of the year, raising further questions for the bosses of the charity. The city of Liverpool has been in shock since news broke on Monday that Zoe's Place , a baby hospice based in Yew Tree Road in West Derby since 1995, will be closing its doors for good in a matter of months. Devastated staff have been given 30-days before they are set to lose their jobs.
In an announcement on Monday, the hospice said: "It is with great sadness that Zoe’s Place trustees have to announce that their Liverpool hospice will close at the end of 2024. With only nine months before the charity’s lease for Yew Tree Lane ends, there is insufficient time and money to relocate to a new home elsewhere." The charity had been hoping to build a new hospice near to its current location and in September the charity's had plans approved to refurbish a former villa on the former bowling green at Hayman's Green in West Derby.
This came after a huge fundraising drive was launched to pay for the new facility. But charity bosses said the time taken to get planning permission has left insufficient time to construct the building. This, along with a 'significant rise' in the projected costs and 'the challenge of raising funding in the current economic climate' means there are now insufficient funds available for the project.
But now the owners of the land where the hospice is based have spoken out. The land is owned by the Catholic order the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy. The Trustees of the Institute told the ECHO they were "saddened to hear of the closure of Zoe's Place Hospice would take place by the end of December 2024, six months before the expiry of its extended lease.
" They explained that they are planning to move from the West Derby site and ultimately sell it, but claimed they had been discussing this with the hospice since 2021. The institute also said it had given Zoe's Place a two-year rent-free period and had extended its lease until next June. Sr Bernadette, from the Institute, said: "We are sorry to hear that the Zoe’s Place Trustees have decided, sadly, that there is insufficient time and money to relocate the hospice.
The closure of Zoe’s Place, Liverpool will cause upheaval and pain for children, families and staff. "Given our ageing community and a greatly reduced number of sisters, we took the difficult decision some time ago that the Institute could no longer have a presence on the Yew Tree Lane site. Zoe’s Place occupies the ground floor of one of two very large buildings on the site.
"In November 2021, we began discussions with the Trustees of Zoe’s Place about its future at Yew Tree Lane. We were aware that the lease on Zoe’s Place was due to expire in June 2024. We also explained that we had decided that we would have to leave the site.
"In March 2023, after further discussion with the Trustees of Zoe’s Place we extended the lease at their request for another 12 months until June 2025. We also agreed to provide them with a two-year rent-free period, allowing Zoe’s Place to use all of its financial resources to spend over the following two years planning for its future." In May this year the Institute said it was approached by Zoe’s Place about the possibility of extending their lease for a further period beyond the end of June 2025.
A spokesperson added: "We advised them that, unfortunately, this was not possible due to the potential sale of the site which has been planned for some time. "We understand how vital Zoe’s Place is to so many parents and children and families, as well as staff, and supporters. We appreciate that this period must be one of great anxiety and stress.
" Joan Stainsby, executive trustee, said: "When the trustees spoke to the team at Zoe's Place Liverpool on Monday, just like the families we support, we had found ourselves in a position of very little hope. The positivity, generosity and commitment to our cause we have seen since our announcement has been both overwhelming and uplifting. "The chances of finding an alternative home for Zoe's Place Liverpool still seem slim.
But it is heartening to know that our staff team, and the people of Liverpool, will help ensure that every possible opportunity is exhausted before we are forced to close. We are meeting our local MP, Ian Byrne, today (Thursday 10 October) and are in communication with our local councillors too.".
