David Wilson gains approval for HMR scheme in north Liverpool

DAVID Wilson Homes has gained approval to build a further 285 new homes in north Liverpool as part of the next phase of a Housing Market Renewal programme in Easby.

The company had submitted a plan to build 271 houses and 14 apartments on a 7.5-hectare site which currently contains 1970s housing and a series of plots which have already been cleared.

Around 127 properties remain on the site, 34 of which are still occupied. However, a report to yesterday’s planning committee stated that the area “is in a state of disrepair with very low occupancy and is in need of regeneration”.

David Wilson Homes has already completed an earlier phase on the Easby estate where it has been building 50 homes on a one hectare site to the north of the proposed development.

David Wilson’s North West planning director Andrew Taylor said the firm was the lead developer for the Housing Market Renewal initiative in north Liverpool and had been working on the redevelopment of areas such as Easby, Kirkdale, Tuebrook and Everton since 2004.

It has largely been working on transforming council-owned sites adding a mix of tenures including properties for rent, shared equity and owner-occupied housing. Some of these will be managed by Liverpool Housing Trust.

“In Easby, what we’ve been looking to do is reverse housing market decline but to do so in partnership as it wouldn’t be viable without HMR.”

Taylor said that the application which has just gained approval was a variation on an earlier proposal. Plans were modified to replace several types of house, pulling back houses along Fountains Road, increasing path sizes and pushing forward houses and apartment blocks along Lamberth Road.

House styles have also been adapted so detailing reflects surrounding properties.