Meols Drive is located between the two urban centres of Hoylake and West Kirby. Both are old settlements which grew as commuter towns during the later 19th and early 20th century. The main development in the area consisted of large villas backing onto the Royal Liverpool Golf Course with slightly smaller houses on the eastern side of Meols Drive, towards the Hoylake Station. The golf club is thought to be the second oldest in England.
Meols Drive brings together a built form of fine residential dwellings, predominantly designed with individualistic Arts and Crafts aesthetics, set into spacious and mature plots and an exceptional landscape character defined by the Royal Liverpool Golf Course and the coastline at the tip of the Wirral Peninsula.
The built heritage of Hoylake and West Kirby are precious resources that, together with the stunning coastal landscapes, attract in tourists and visitors to support the local economy. The settlements are unique in being laid out around the golf course which exemplifies the leisure boom of the late Victorian era. The resulting pattern of development is not only of international importance but a huge source of civic and community pride.
The Meols Drive Conservation Area was designated in the year 2004 and a new appraisal and management plan were adopted in March 2025. The King's Gap Conservation Area Boundary was extended in March 2025.
Planning permission is required for some physical alternations. All buildings or structures over a minimum size may not be demolished without the council's prior consent. Trees are protected within the Conservation Area; you are required to give six weeks' notice in writing to the council prior to carrying out any tree works. If in doubt, please contact the Heritage Team at heritage@wirral.gov.uk
Download planning documents relating to the Meols Drive Conservation Area. The PDF files below may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. PDF maps are more suitable to view on a large screen over a wifi connection.