A verdict could be reached on the future of a long-neglected grade II building in Gateacre that has become a "playground for flytippers", as proposals to repurpose it into a nursery have been revived. For over a decade, the land surrounding the former Crying Tree pub site on Grange Lane has remained unused.

The establishment shut its doors permanently in 2014, with numerous planning applications submitted to overhaul the site. Most recently, an extension was approved in October for plans to reinvent the location as a children's day nursery.

Now those plans are set to finally go before Liverpool Council's planning committee for a decision to be made. Originally known as the Gorsey Cop, the site includes a significant Victorian Villa with related outbuildings, thought to have been constructed in the 1860s.

The original name originates from the nearby Gorsey Cop Farm, which no longer exists and predated the house. Earlier this year, the ECHO reported how the city council had started to seek a warrant from the courts to enter the private land in an attempt to tackle the rubbish that had begun to accumulate outside the building, after an enforcement notice appeared to be disregarded.

In 2010 the building was renamed The Crying Tree Bar and Grill, but ceased trading in 2014 when the site was closed. A planning application was submitted by Lee Goldsmith in April 2022 to convert the site into a 100-place day nursery after a 2017 bid to build homes on the land proved to be financially unfeasible, reports the Liverpool Echo.

According to planning documents from Liverpool Council, the proposal would provide before and after school care as well as a holiday club. This would necessitate subdividing the building to cater for different age groups: babies, 1 to 2 years, 2 to 3 years and pre-school, due to differing space standards and staffing ratios for each age group.

The house was constructed by the Cunningham family, originally cotton brokers from Manchester, and remained their main family home through several generations until 1922 when it was sold to Alexander McKechnie, a copper smelter who kept the house as a family residence. From 1952 to 2014, the building had 11 consecutive owners and has been used in various capacities as a private casino, restaurant and bar.

Fly-tipping has become a persistent problem on the site with what seems to be building materials left discarded outside the former entrance recently.

An enforcement notice was issued last year regarding the fly-tipping issues but according to an email seen by the Liverpool Echo, this was ignored.

Under the new plans, additional spaces such as staff accommodation would be installed.

The first and second floors of the original listed building would serve as ancillary to the proposed 100 space day nursery use.

A play area is proposed at the rear on two levels, a paved area at the floor level of the annexe building and a lower forest play area.

New steps and a platform lift are proposed between the higher ground floor levels of the existing building and the proposed outside play area, whilst new kerb and paving are also suggested for the historic main entrance to the site.