Liverpool welcomes brownfield housing boost
The local authority is set to receive a £55m investment uplift from Homes England to accelerate the regeneration of the city’s historic docklands.
Today, Tuesday 16th July, a report is being put forward to members of the council’s cabinet recommending the local authority enters into an agreement with Homes England to accept Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) grant funding. The news has come just weeks after chancellor Rachael Reeves has outlined Labour’s latest housing plans, of which building on brownfield sites is at the centre.
The funded has been provided for Central Docks, the largest neighbourhood within Liverpool Waters and the city’s largest brownfield site. The area is owned by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters and is projected to unlock more than £500m in private investment.
Overall the redevelopment programme includes the establishment of a public park and infrastructure to accommodate around 2,300 new homes.
Specialists have remarked that the key infrastructure within the 10.5 hectare scheme would comprise of utilities, thoroughfares green spaces, and public amenities, would lay the groundwork for future investments and the development of housing and commercial ventures would also support new community, retail and leisure facilities.
Against this backdrop, Liverpool City Council have also made similar brownfield site commitments in its draft housing strategy, which is currently subject to a public consultation, that supports the delivery of 2,000 new homes every year to 2030 and to double the number of affordable properties across the city.
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, said: ‘This new funding from Homes England will help transform one of the country’s major brownfield sites and act as a huge economic catalyst for north Liverpool.
‘I was delighted to hear the new Chancellor cite Liverpool Waters as a key scheme in her first speech in the Treasury. Liverpool City Council stands ready to help deliver that mission to unlock our brownfield sites to kickstart a new era of house building.
‘The Central Docks scheme has the potential to be a true flagship scheme of what can be achieved by a partnership between central and local government and the private sector.
‘A huge amount of work has gone into our draft waterfront plan and housing strategy and it’s exciting to see such a key scheme getting ready to be delivered. Its success would mark a new decade of delivery this city deserves.’
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: ‘Britain is under new management and, in just a few days, we are already starting to see the difference. Working hand in hand with government at a national, regional and local level we can make an enormous difference and drive growth locally.
‘The development of Central Docks, alongside the ongoing work to regenerate Bramley Moore and Bootle, has the potential to be a catalyst for growth and wider regeneration for great swathes of South Sefton and North Liverpool, creating jobs and attracting investment.
‘The Central Docks site was identified in the Liverpool Strategic Advisory Panel’s final report as a site for potential development. The £55m we’ve received is an enormous statement of intent – on top of the £31m we secured for the city back in March.
‘I’d like to pay tribute to the late Sir Howard Bernstein for all the support and expertise he brought to the Panel’s work.’
Image: Jean Carlo Emer
