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Work to start on
refurbishing the Welsh Streets
WORK will get underway early next month
on the refurbishment of homes in the Welsh Streets in Liverpool.
A pilot scheme to transform 35 properties into 25 energy efficient homes will
start in August 2016, on High Park Street and Veolas Street, in Princes Park.
Place First, which signed an exclusivity deal with the City Council in January
2016,
is the developer delivering the project. The firm is a specialist development
company with a proven track record in converting 19th century housing into high
quality homes that meet modern standards whilst retaining their original
character.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "When we partnered with Place First
in January, I pledged that we would start work as soon as detailed surveys had
been completed.
Place First have a great track record in regenerating old houses and I know they
are genuinely excited about what they can do in the Welsh Streets. We've already
demonstrated with the regeneration of Anfield and our Homes for a Pound scheme
that we are leading the way in finding imaginative ways of retaining properties
where it is viable to do so."
The pilot scheme is designed to show the local community how the homes can look
when they are fully refurbished to modern standards, and will set the standard
for refurbishment across the wider Welsh Streets area. The new homes will
provide spacious, modern accommodation to suit households and families of all
sizes through innovative remodelling that will deliver a mix of:- 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes with gardens.
Councillor Frank Hont, Cabinet member for housing, said:- "Place First have
been working really hard over the last few months to look at what we can achieve
quickly.
It is really important to us that the residents can see progress in bringing the
area back to life, because for far too long they have seen their hopes and
dreams thwarted through no fault of their own.
I genuinely feel that we are at the start of something really special for the
Welsh Streets, which will create a new community for the area and give it a long
term future, delivering the best of the old and the new. This is just the start
of the process though and I hope to be announcing details of further pilot
schemes in the near future. I would like to thank residents for their patience,
resilience and support over the last few years and sticking with the area when
some of them are in poor health as a result of the conditions they are living
in."
David Smith Milne, Managing Director and founder of PlaceFirst said:- "We
are delighted to start work on this pilot scheme so soon.
Delivering an 'early win' and showing the local community that we are committed
to this project was a mutual priority for Place First and the Council from the
outset.
The remodelling and refurbishment of these properties will be a difficult and
complex task, but we are confident that we can deliver inspirational, distinctive
homes that preserve and compliment the heritage of this historic neighbourhood.
Place First are committed to improving the renting experience for the growing
number of families who now rely on this sector for their housing needs.
The homes proposed for the Welsh Streets will set new standards in renting and
will appeal to families looking for rental accommodation they can put roots down
in and genuinely call a home.
The new homes will be distinctive and inspirational, designed around the needs of
modern families, unlike the 'identikit' approach taken by the majority of volume
householders.
We would like to thank the council and the local community for their
enthusiastic support on this project. Coming into an historic urban regeneration
project like this can often be difficult, but we have had tremendous support
from both the council and the local community right from the outset and hope
that together we can achieve something really special in the Welsh Streets."
A further phase of refurbishment work to transform homes in an area of the Welsh
Streets that is still occupied will be announced in the next few months.
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