Council to give away sites to boost housing

LIVERPOOL City Council has announced plans for an investment of around £130m into the building of an extra 1,000 new homes in the city over the next three years.

The council has sald it will embark on a drive to bring empty properties back into use, as well as offering social housing providers the chance to develop on council-owned and brownfield sites at no cost.

Another proposal is for the creation of a mortgage scheme to help first-time buyers and a new £20m housing fund.

The proposals are part of the council’s new housing delivery plan to 2015, which is being put before its executive today.

City Council Leader, Cllr Joe Anderson, said: “This is the biggest investment of this type we have seen for decades.

“When I took over as leader I made it clear that housing was one of my top priorities and this plan will help deliver significant improvements at a time when we are facing real economic challenges.

“Not only will our housing stock be improved through this and other building schemes which are taking place in the city, but it will create much-needed jobs and help build sustainable communities.

“We are investing in this area to save. We will be providing housing which will encourage people to stay in the city which boosts its economy.

“But this is not just about social housing, it is a unique opportunity for regeneration and growth which will produce thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships,” he added.

It is proposed that the plan will be financed through borrowing and by using capital receipts. The council has also bid for £10m of funds through the Housing Market Renewal Transition Fund. Sites offered at no cost to social housing firms will be subject to a clawback agreement if no new homes are built on the land.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing said: “It makes eminent sense to invest in housing in this way. Over time we can recoup a good part of our investment by the increased income from council tax and through the Government’s new homes bonus.

“By releasing sites at no cost, providing a subsidy and working with private developers and registered providers, we will see 2,000 new homes built in this city in the next three years on top of the hundreds which are currently being built.

“We have a waiting list of 18,000 and we will drastically reduce this by providing the types of homes people desperately need.”