Member Article

Anfield renewal scheme shortlisted for regeneration award

Building and regeneration specialist Keepmoat has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for its work transforming one of Liverpool’s best known neighbourhoods.

After completing three phases of development in Anfield, bringing more than 300 much-needed new homes to the area, Keepmoat’s scheme has now been shortlisted for best regeneration project at the Housebuilder Awards 2013.

Home to Liverpool Football Club and one of the city’s largest renewal areas, Anfield has for a long time been characterised by its pre-1919 terraced properties for which there is now little or no demand.

By building high-quality new homes Keepmoat has worked in partnership with Liverpool City Council and Your Housing Group to regenerate Anfield streets, such as Granton Road and Herschell Street; creating modern developments where people want to live, work and invest.

The work has transformed the housing stock in these areas by replacing draughty early 20th Century properties with new, energy efficient homes which will cut household energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions.

Last month a new £260m plan was announced to regenerate Anfield, which will see Keepmoat build a further 280 new homes in the area.

Around £5m of funding has been received from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to create and safeguard jobs and apprenticeships as part of the scheme. As part of its work in Anfield, Keepmoat has committed to a continual apprenticeship programme which will see four apprentices complete their training every two years.

Keepmoat’s Anfield Site Manager, Mark King, also won the Local Authority Building Control North West Site Agent of the Year award in 2012 and an NHBC Pride in the Job award for the last two years.

Ian Fletcher, Keepmoat’s head of land and partnership in the North West, said: “Anfield is an iconic area of one of the world’s best known cities.

“Every regeneration scheme we work on is important. However, the regeneration project to transform Anfield is one of the most exciting and gratifying projects I have ever had the pleasure to work on.

“We are committed to helping transform parts of Anfield and we hope to improve the lives of residents who live there.”

Bobby Norman, moved into a new home at The Parks, after living in Rockfield Road, Anfield for more than 40 years.

The 75-year-old’s former home in Rockfield Road had become damp and unfit for habitation, which led to him spending 10 days in hospital with breathing difficulties.

Bobby, a regular singer in pubs and clubs around Liverpool, said: “Moving to a new house here was a God send for me. After 50 years I feel like a new man again.

“Having lived in Rockfield for more than 40 years, there were obviously mixed emotions when it became clear I’d have to move out. But to be honest, the area had become very rundown, and it was the right thing for the council to step in to improve it.”

The winner of the best regeneration project will be announced at a ceremony at the Tower Hotel in London on Thursday, November 7.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Walker .