First of 99 affordable homes launch in Liverpool’s Welsh Streets

Plus Dane Housing, in partnership with Liverpool City Council and Homes England, is today launching the first of 99 affordable homes in Liverpool’s Welsh Streets.

The streets are known as Welsh Streets as they are named after the Welsh towns of the construction workers who built the terraces in the 19th century.

Former Beatle Ringo Starr used to live at 9 Madryn Street.

The Welsh Streets had, at one stage, been earmarked for demolition and redevelopment.

Now, 127 properties are being extensively remodelled as part of the £17.4m programme to create modern, contemporary homes in the Toxteth neighbourhood.

Madeleine Nelson, acting chief executive of Plus Dane Housing, said: “Plus Dane is hugely proud to be a part of the regeneration of Welsh Streets, working closely with our partners Homes England and Liverpool City Council having been involved in the neighbourhood for decades.

“This is a flagship regeneration programme for us and more than just creating homes we want to support the rebuilding of the community to ensure it remains a great place to live for our current and future customers.

“In developing our plans, we have worked closely with our customers and the homes we are launching today reflect their aspirations for future living. That Plus Dane has been able to deliver such beautiful homes in response to these aspirations is brilliant.”

Lynnie Hinnigan, deputy mayor and cabinet member for housing said: “I’m delighted that Plus Dane is now in a position to launch the first wave of these new, affordable homes in the Welsh Streets.

“This is a symbolic moment in the regeneration of the area and a great example of how the city council is working with numerous housing partners, like Plus Dane, to bring vacant properties back into use.

“In the past four years alone we’ve managed to convert 1,500 vacant units into homes and aim to breathe new life into 3,000 more over the next four years.

“This is a fantastic community and the residents have been very patient and understanding of all the hurdles that have had to be negotiated to get to this point.

“The standard of these homes is outstanding and they are going to make a huge impact on the families’ quality of life and the wider community.”

The Welsh Streets is made up of small Victorian, terraced properties with downstairs toilets.

The newly remodelled homes have been opened up to provide larger kitchen and living spaces that benefit from high ceilings, plenty of storage space and some quirky features that you wouldn’t find in new-build properties.

In order to create a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes, in some cases two properties have been knocked into one.

A significant investment has also been made to increase the energy efficiency of the homes, to make them more economical to run.

Laura, one of the first residents to move back to Gwydir Street following the completion of the pilot, said: “I lived here for six years before moving out while the work was being done on my house, but I wanted to move back into the street because I love the area and the neighbours.

“I am so happy now, it feels like a proper home.”

Plus Dane has partnered with Penny Lane Builders, a family-owned property company established in the Liverpool 8 area and employing more than 250 local people, on the first phase of the programme.