Developer appointed to build first Foundations homes in Liverpool in £14m deal

Liverpool City Council’s new housing company, Foundations, has appointed a contractor to build the first homes for its major new-build programme.

Birkenhead-based partnership homes specialist Lovell is to deliver the first properties totalling more than 100, in what will be a decade-long £500m initiative to create 10,000 homes.

Subject to planning consent, Foundations and Lovell will create a high-quality mixed development scheme, which will cost in the region of £14m, featuring a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes on land off Ackers Hall Avenue in Yew Tree, north Liverpool.

The houses, the majority of which will be built in line with Lifetime Home Standards, are proposed for empty land previously occupied by a city council housing estate.

It has been identified as good potential for housing development, being located in a residential area with access to local schools and colleges and a good road network, including nearby Queens Drive.

Foundations is the flagship housing policy for Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, who wants to use the company to rebalance the city’s social housing stock, revolutionise the rent-to-buy sector, and drive up council tax receipts for the council.

Formally established in January, it has been tasked with creating bespoke properties for the homeless, foster carers, large families, the elderly and people with a disability and to improve the availability of good quality, affordable homes in the city.

Other schemes are currently being devised and will involve other contractors and developers with the ambition that Foundations will sustain 2,000 jobs in the city’s construction sector.

Frank Hont, chair of Foundations, said: “This is a symbolic moment for what will become a landmark programme. Lovell have a great track record in delivering accessible homes which is fundamental to our ambitions.

“There will be a real emphasis on quality and affordability and I’ve no doubt they will provide people with many differing needs a perfect home.

“This site in Yew Tree also highlights the fact that we’re going to use Foundations to rebuild and enhance communities.”

A key aim of Foundations is to future proof the city’s housing market for an ageing population, ensuring people can live independently for longer and provide intermediary accommodation that help keeps people out of long-term hospital stays.

It will also help reduce properties becoming void and reduce the chances of properties being converted into inappropriate Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Foundations will also underpin the city council’s other major strategic housing goals, such as the renewal of older neighbourhoods and increasing the levels of home ownership in the city by offering tenants rental products that will enable residents to move from rental to home ownership.

Cllr Lynnie Hinnigan, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Foundations is fundamental to addressing the city’s need to develop 30,000 new homes by 2030, and our economic future.

“The city’s housing supply is dominated by small terraced houses, which skews the city’s council tax revenues and provides a very poor choice and housing experience for our residents.

“We’re fully committed to making this a success and I can’t wait to seeing the first homes materialise and the first families moving in to Ackers Hall Avenue.”

Pre-planning consultations will take place with the Yew Tree community next month at Blueberry Park Primary School, Ackers Hall Avenue, on Wednesday, July 11.

The planning application is set to be submitted in August with the Lovell construction team aiming to start work on the proposed development by the end of this year.

The new homes will incorporate many Lifetime Home Standard features – such as extra hallway space and room for a chairlift – allowing them to be easily adapted to suit residents’ changing needs.

Homes will also benefit from high standards of insulation as well as energy-efficient boilers and modern kitchen appliances. Each home will have its own front and back gardens as well as off-street parking.

Lovell regional managing director Nigel Yates said: “We’re extremely proud to be working in partnership with Foundations and Liverpool City Council to deliver the first of these much-needed high-quality homes for local people.

“Our team are very excited to be using their expertise in developing different types of affordable housing across a range of tenures to this important project which will bring attractive, energy-efficient brand new homes to an established residential area.”

Lovell has a strong record of creating new homes and communities through sustainable development as well as boosting local economies via job creation and the provision of training opportunities.

Recent projects in Liverpool include a major new homes development in Belle Vale through a joint venture partnership with social housing provider Riverside, as well as a number of Lovell Homes developments of high-quality housing for open market sale.