A new neighbourhood of social and affordable housing will be built on the edge of Liverpool City Centre.
Social housing firm Regenda has been given the green light to develop a major new development called Grove Place close to the city's Georgian Quarter and university area. Regenda submitted plans to Liverpool City Council to create a 'new green, diverse and multi-generational neighbourhood' on the site of the Grove Street Estate in Toxteth, close to the Liverpool Women's Hospital. The Grove Street Estate is a purpose built estate of mainly socially rented properties, owned by Liverpool Council, but leased to The Regenda Group.
Under its new plans, Regenda intends to demolish the existing homes on the estate and build six new buildings, ranging from three to nine storeys in height, that will contain 304 new residential units. There are also plans for 368sqm of 'flexible commercial space' as well as parking and landscaping. The development would be known as Grove Place.
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It is also proposed that, as part of the new scheme, Vine Street and Falkner Street are reconnected to improve movement between the development site and the surrounding areas. Both streets were deliberately blocked in the 1990s.
Outlining the application at Liverpool Town Hall today, Regenda's Director of Development, Martin Davies, said: "We have seen a lot of headlines about stalled sites and liquidations in the city. This is a strong and sustainable regeneration proposal of which 76% of the properties will be affordable."
Mr Davies said that all residents currently living in the area will be given the chance to move back into the new development and will be given the option of living next to their neighbours as well as others in a 'new mixed community.' Central ward Councillor Nick Small said: "This is a significant scheme of strategic importance to the city."
He added: "I have been a councillor for 18 years and this will be the first new social housing in my ward in that time. This is a community that has undergone significant change over the last 20 years, with lots of residents driven out.
He added: "This scheme will increase the amount of social housing and will increase the choice of housing for those, particularly young people, wanting to live in this area. This is a really significant scheme that can transform this part of Liverpool."
The council committee was unanimous in approving the scheme today. Once built, it will provide If approved 144 social rent apartments, 84 rent to buy apartments, three affordable rent homes, 50 private sector rented properties and 23 homes for private rented sale. Regenda says it has 'high aspirations' for the development and wants to 'create a place and neighbourhood that is the first choice for those looking to live in the area and where everyone is proud to live and work.'
