Multi-million pound Welsh Streets transformation to go on show
A multi-million pound project to transform dozens of empty Victorian homes in the Toxeth area of Liverpool into beautiful rental properties is being unveiled at a heritage open weekend.
Specialist landlord Placefirst is remodelling the 19th century Welsh Streets to create distinctive family homes that preserve the heritage of the local neighbourhood.
Several renovated properties on High Park Street will be open during the heritage event on Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, from 10.30am until 4pm.
David Smith-Milne, founder and managing director of Placefirst, said: “My grandparents lived locally and I have fond childhood memories of the area – this is an important milestone, not only for Welsh Streets, but for me personally.
“As a team, we want to give the local community, and anyone interested in the Victorian heritage of this great city, an opportunity to see how the properties are being transformed into some of the most distinctive family homes available in Liverpool.
“Following years of uncertainty and passionate campaigning about the future of these streets, we are delighted to be in a position where we can invite the pubic to come and see, first hand, how these historic properties are being brought back into use as modern, spacious family homes.”
The properties were originally built by Welsh workers and named after Welsh towns, valleys and villages. The sympathetic refurbishment is preserving the best of yesterday and enhancing them with the best of today, says Placefirst.
The landlord is also creating landscaped outdoor areas for socialising and playing. Rear property extensions, yards and alleys will be replaced by a mix of private terraces and community avenues to bring to life the outdoor space.
Internally, the homes are being completely remodelled through a ‘back-to-brick’ refurbishment that will offer high levels of energy efficiency and super-fast broadband connectivity.
Most of the new homes are being built for private rent. as part of Placefirst’s commitment to improving the quality of the family private rental sector. The majority of the site team working on the new homes are based in the Merseyside area.
The Welsh Streets renovation forms part of a wider £30m masterplan, approved by Liverpool City Cabinet in June, and will include alternative tenures such as affordable rents, shared ownership and market sale.
