The new housing development in Everton will allow residents to have access to a gym and cinema
The new housing development in Everton will allow residents to have access to a gym and cinema
More than 250 new homes are set to transform an area located at the edge of Liverpool city centre, on a site once backed by former Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler. The news comes after a deal was struck between Liverpool City Council and the developer, ASBBJ Real Estate, resulting in a green light for its £46.9m Angel Gardens housing scheme.
After an initial proposal to build 300 homes on land at St Anne Street and Fox Street in Everton fell through four years ago, the site has been unused. That scheme was publicly backed by Fowler, with the LFC icon’s likeness plastered on hoardings surrounding the site.
The project had been put forward by Elatus Homes, but subsequently fell at the first hurdle. Fowler acted as an ambassador and was never involved in any day to day running of schemes.
Now, a new scheme is set to breathe life into the area, with fresh proposals going before Liverpool Council planners. At a planning committee meeting on December 23 last year, ASBBJ’s application was approved to develop a multi-million pound housing complex in Everton.
As a result, the developer will erect two residential blocks, creating a total of 254 new apartments, subject to a legal agreement, and conditions proposed by the local authority’s director of planning and building control.
At the time, an objection was raised by Cllr Jane Corbett, relating to the number of one-bed apartments, a lack of parking spaces and access issues. Cllr Corbett also complained about the “purely profit driven nature of this development”, citing the absence of any affordable or social housing units within the proposal.
An amended condition was also put forward which would allow the developer to forgo paying the full financial contributions towards affordable housing – known as section 106 clawback – required by policy and to be allocated to other parts of the ward.
These conditions formed part of a unanimous vote, with the application being approved subject to meeting the conditions outlined at the committee meeting.
The latest update was announced yesterday, Wednesday, April 1, and confirmed a section 106 agreement has been finalised for the housing scheme. The ECHO understands the agreement will see ASBBJ contribute £140,000 for street trees, £70,700 for recreational spaces, £254,000 for public open space, and £50,000 for highways improvements.
The apartment mix breaks down to 164 one-bed residences, 62 two-bed ones, and 28 three-bed properties. Of those 254, 28 are due to meet accessibility space standards.
The apartments will also have access to a gym and cinema, and parking will be available in a 95-bay car park by the southern apartment building. There will also be space for 255 cycles to be stored.
The entire scheme is estimated to cost £46.9m to build, according to the latest viability statement, with the design proposal to incorporate some elements of the area’s industrial and warehouse architecture.
