Metro Mayor Calls for ₤200m To Clean Up Brownfield Sites for Housing

STEVE Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has called on this, or any future government, to provide ₤200m funding to clean up brownfield sites and make them ready for development. Speaking as the Combined Authority prepares to consider a new Housing Statement, which sets out its vision for housing across the City Region, Steve Rotheram said:- "Everybody should have the right to a safe and comfortable place to call home, but a national housing crisis means this is out of reach for too many people in our City Region. We desperately need to build more homes and this new housing statement sets out a clear plan of action. A key focus is on speeding up the delivery of new houses, through a brownfield 1st approach to preserve our green spaces as best we can. Across the Region we've identified enough Brownfield land to build 42,000 homes, but to get these much needed houses built, we need to get the sites ready to build. This is expensive because of our industrial legacy and that's why I'm calling on the government to provide the ₤200m we need to make them house building ready; so we can get on with the job."

In planning terms, any land that has been previously developed is classed as brownfield. In the Liverpool City Region, much of this land is derelict and formerly industrial so must be cleaned up before it can be redeveloped. In total, 700 brownfield sites have been identified across the six local Authorities of the Liverpool City Region. The updated register identifies 1,813 acres of brownfield sites which could provide space for more than 42,000 homes, if remediated.

Councillor Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:- "This Housing Statement is an important statement of intent, and the Combined Authority and constituent Local Authorities will work with a coalition of partners to drive real change. This includes our local Housing Associations, private house builders, and Homes England, with whom we are already working closely to build an evidence base, identify sites and get spades in the ground. Housing can, and should, be the cornerstone of a prosperous, inclusive place to live and work; the foundation of a life well-lived for our citizens. The Combined Authority and its constituent Local Authorities are working hard to restore this principle, to deliver for the people of the Liverpool City Region."

The Housing Statement was presented at on Friday, 1 November 2019, sets out the following vision for housing:-

► Supports ambitions for an inclusive economy as set out in the emerging Local Industrial Strategy.

► Addresses fuel poverty.

► Improves the long term sustainability of all communities in the LCR.

► Delivers public service transformation and meets the housing needs of the City Region's most vulnerable residents.

► Supports the City Region's ambitions to become a world leader in modern construction methods; and

► Prevents homelessness wherever possible.

► To deliver the Vision, 5 key priorities have been identified:

► Delivering more homes, improving housing choice and quality; with an emphasis on increasing housing supply and choice (with a focus on brownfield land) improving housing quality (including better design, accessibility and energy efficiency) and increasing the supply of construction skills.'

► Supporting our Ageing Population.

► Regenerating our Neighbourhoods.

► Improving the Quality of Renting.

► Tackling Homelessness.

Southport Bijou Cinema Horror Film Festival

THE Southport Bijou Cinema on Post Office Ave are holding a Horror Film Festival, that ends on 5 November 2019, with the classic 193 film, The Wicker Man, The Final Cut. We popped over to see the spooking goings on, at the Cinema on Post Office Ave, on 31 October 2019, to see the Director's Cut of Midsommar. To see what other films are on offer at the cinema, please go to:- SouthportBijouCinema.Co.UK.

Liverpool based companies strike gold at manufacturing awards

2 Liverpool based companies have struck gold at the Regional heats of a major national manufacturing awards programme organised by Make UK, the manufacturers' organisation. The awards which recognise excellence among manufacturing companies in 6 categories, as well as 2 Apprentice categories, were presented at the North West annual dinner of Make UK which was sponsored by Japanese IT solutions provider Hulft.

Prinovis Ltd, a commercial printing manufacturer based in Speke was awarded the Make UK Sustainability Award for its clear action plans relevant to energy reduction and in particular Solar PhotoVoltaic installation. Judges said:- "Prinovis have wisely used 3rd party support in the planned review of technology, allowing them to focus on what is important to the company."

Another Liverpool company, Tratos Ltd, a cable manufacturer based in Knowsley, was Runner Up in the Make UK Innovation Award sponsored by HVM Catapult. Tratos was presented with the Award for Innovation along with previously picking up a Queen's Award for Innovation 2019 with clear demonstrable evidence of innovation and application to drive improvements in existing and new markets.

Commenting Russell Kirby, Senior Director, Business Development EMEA, at Hulft the sponsor of the dinner said:- "Britain is one of the world's biggest manufacturing nations, and it is a great privilege to be working with MAKE UK to help support and champion UK manufacturing. The sector is facing significant change, as a result of what is being referred to as the 4th industrial revolution, and it is important that businesses are given the right opportunities to properly position themselves for the future. We are looking forward to getting out to meet MAKE UK's members and being part of such an important and credible awards programme."

Dick Elsy CBE, Chief Executive of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. "Innovation is the beating heart of a thriving company. Mastering its rhythm is key to developing great products, achieving outstanding productivity and putting a business ahead of the pack. Innovators are the drivers of opportunity."

All the winners will now go forward to the national finals to be judged in London, in December 2019.