Costs are increasing at the site where 70 homes could be delivered
Costs are increasing at the site where 70 homes could be delivered
A stalled housing scheme that could transform a long unused site in north Liverpool is to receive vital support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) as costs increase.
In December, Cobalt Housing was granted planning permission by Liverpool Council to deliver 70 new homes on land at Stonedale off the East Lancashire Road in Croxteth.
The £23m scheme is to be created on land in Stonedale Crescent and are in addition to 57 properties already built by Cobalt in the nearby Altbridge Park and 88 properties that are under construction in Waterdale Gardens. The new properties will be a mix of one, two, three, four and five bedroom houses, apartments and bungalows for affordable rent and rent to buy.
A grant was awarded by the CA in February 2022 as part of a joint ask with a sister scheme on land at the rear of the Showcase Cinema. However, with costs increasing around abnormal demolition and ground works, regional leaders are to be asked to approve their support for increased financial assistance for the project.
If agreed, the funding would be the final award under the CA’s brownfield land fund (BLF). The Combined Authority housing team is recommending the leaders consider approving the amendment to its original combined figure of £2.2m to £2,9m.
This includes the approved £1.3m award for Showcase and an offer of £1.6m to Stonedale in order to unlock stalled delivery of 70 new homes and wider estate regeneration. A report to go before members tomorrow said: “Stonedale is a wholescale estate regeneration project combining the demolition of unsuitable units with improvement of public realm and new build development of 70 homes (this brings a net increase of 45 new homes so these are eligible for BLF grant).
This will be a transformational scheme that has long been in Cobalt’s plans to enact as it provides a more suitable housing offer for the local community, including apartments, bungalows and houses. However, Cobalt is facing increased costs in terms of abnormals around demolition and ground works including the need for utility connections and installing a gas membrane.”
Over the period of its lifetime, the BLF has contributed to development for more than 4,500 across the wider Liverpool City Region. Established to support the creation of new homes on previously developed brownfield sites, the £59.5m in government funding came with a target for enabling the construction of 3,970 new homes.
Including the £59.5m Brownfield Land Fund, the Combined Authority received a total of £147m from government, including £82m from the Brownfield Land and Infrastructure Fund, to develop Liverpool Waters and Hind Street, Birkenhead.