Member Article

Affordable homes plan for site of former school

The site of what was, until recently, a school site in the Toxteth district of Liverpool is set to be transformed into almost 40 affordable homes.

Liverpool City Council is expected to approve plans for the sale of land, which previously housed Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, to social housing provider Plus Dane Group.

The transfer of the land – along with an adjacent site bounded by Amity Street, North Hill Street and Letitia Street – will enable Plus Dane to start work on delivering 38 affordable new properties.

Plus Dane has received planning permission to deliver a mix of affordable two, three and four bedroom houses on the site. Twenty two of those will be for rent, with the remaining 16 for sale.

If the land transfer is approved by the Cabinet, Plus Dane will start on-site in April, with the scheme to be completed in March 2015.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: “We continue to work hard to improve housing across the city, and this scheme would make an important contribution to delivering the affordable housing that local people so badly need.

“It’s yet another example of how we are working with our partners, and making best use of our assets. It’s helping bring in new investment and deliver housing that meets the needs of residents and breathes new life into our neighbourhoods.”

The former Our Lady of Mount Carmel School occupied the site, on North Hill Street, until August 2010 when it was closed due to its amalgamation with St Malachy’s School and became Holy Family Catholic Primary School.

The building suffered serious fire damage in July 2011, which led to its demolition and clearance of the site in February 2013.

Following delays in the delivery of the Welsh Streets scheme after the planning application was called in for a public inquiry by the Secretary of State, the Mount Carmel development will provide much need affordable homes in this part of Liverpool.

The scheme will also contain a proportion of shared ownership properties, which will be aimed at first time buyers, looking to secure high quality, energy efficient homes in the area.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .