Property briefs: Green light for UU homes plan; Liverpool Mutual Homes, and more
UNITED Utilities has won planning permission for 70 homes at its former training and conference centre in Chorley.
It replaces an earlier plan for 133 houses and 116,000 sq ft of business space.
Manchester-based planning adviser How Planning represented Unitied Utilities. It said the original plan was abandoned due to poor demand for the commercial space.
How’s Chris Sinton said: “United Utilities is making a positive move with these plans for the former training and conference centre.
“The brownfield site has been under-utilised for a long time and the new residential scheme will complement the surrounding residential areas and ensure the effective re-use of what is a vacant site.”
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EMPTY homes in Liverpool will be brought back into use following a deal between the city council and Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH).
The social landlord will regenerate 45 mid-terraced properties in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft by next autumn.
LMH will invest £2.54m and the council has provided provided a grant of £979,000 from £16.8m received from the Government’s Empty Homes Fund.
The work will target properties that have been empty for over six months that might be at risk of falling into permanent disrepair.
LMH chief executive Steve Coffey, said: “Liverpool has a distinct shortage of decent rented housing properties and this problem is magnified in Tuebook and Stoneycroft. Empty homes should be seen as a potential asset and an opportunity to address the housing crisis so it is vital they are brought back into use to meet demand.
“We have identified the first tranche of acquisitions and hope to complete the first properties in the next few months. We have shown the success of this approach after saving many derelict homes over the past five years, particularly in Broad Lane and Norris Green, transforming tired areas into thriving communities.”
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URBAN Splash has scooped three Royal Institution of British Architects (RIBA) awards for its Sheffield-based Park Hill development.
Park Hill, a Grade II-listed building, has been the subject of an extensive revamp.
The awards jury said: “This is a sensitive regeneration of a heroic Grade II* listed building that had become maligned due to the problems associated with poorly maintained social housing. The result is visually striking without losing any of the original ‘Park Hill’ look – the ‘streets in the sky’ live on.”
Tom Bloxham, chairman of the Manchester developer, said: “We are very proud to receive these awards on behalf of the Urban Splash team. Together with our partners, Sheffield City Council, Great Places and the Homes & Communities Agency, we have made great progress with the development.
“This year has been already been an exciting time for Park Hill with the first residents moving into their new homes alongside two commercial tenants setting up in their new offices. It is great to see a new community evolving as part of our efforts to preserve this great piece of architecture.”
