Member Article

Redrow submits housing scheme for north Liverpool

Plans submitted by Redrow Homes for up to sixty new family houses in north Liverpool would also support up to 258 jobs.

If approved, the scheme would create the Liverpool Housing Partnership’s first new homes in the north of the city.

The planning application covers the 6.5-acre former site of two schools, Redbridge and Bank View High Schools, off Sherwood’s Lane, Fazakerley.

The two community special schools have now merged and, from September 2015, will occupy a new £5 million site on Long Lane. The new facilities form part of the £169 million Liverpool Schools Investment Programme, which is seeing at least 12 schools rebuilt or refurbished across the city.

With the two schools now relocated, their former sites will be purchased by Redrow as part of the Liverpool Housing Partnership – allowing the City Council to invest the proceeds into the city’s housing programme, which will offer affordable new homes through its partner Liverpool Mutual Homes.

Redrow will also make a direct contribution of circa £60,000 towards improving public open space locally, while building the new homes will bring much needed employment too.

Official figures from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) suggest that each new home built in the UK supports circa 4.3 jobs, which means that the 60 new homes in Fazakerley could provide work for up to 258 people. This includes direct and on-site employment, indirect employment within the supply chain – much of it local – and ‘induced’ employment, ie. jobs supported by the wage spending of construction and supply chain workers in shops, services and other businesses.

“All in all this is a win-win situation for Liverpool,” says Redrow’s development director Faye Whiteoak.

“We will provide high quality family homes on a vacant brownfield site, the City Council will be able to invest in much-needed affordable housing, it will support jobs for local people and the houses we build will bring additional council tax revenue for the city too.”

The planning application submitted features three and four-bedroom family homes from Redrow’s Arts & Crafts influenced Heritage Collection, with essential modern-day features such as en-suite bathrooms, utility rooms and garages or off-street parking.

Added Faye Whieoak: “Demolition and clearance of the existing school buildings is expected to commence in September and – subject to planning approval – we’d hope to start on site in the new year with a view to opening our show homes in early summer 2016,” Faye adds.

The Liverpool Housing Partnership is a relationship between Liverpool City Council, Redrow Homes and Liverpool Mutual Homes to deliver 1,500 new homes and bring a further 1,000 back into use across the city.

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