Property briefs: Liverpool targets vacant land; Burnley Bridge; Churchgate & Lee House
LIVERPOOL City Council is launching a pilot project to bring vacant land back into use for small-scale housing projects.
The city’s property and asset management team has drawn up a list of 16 council-owned sites, some of which have been vacant for decades.
This land, which includes sites in Walton Village, Kirkdale, Croxteth and Princes Park, will be marketed to individuals or groups who may be interested in small-build housing developments.
Mayor Joe Anderson, said; “We are taking every possible step to drive forward housing growth in this city. A big part of this is making the most of our assets, so we can support the delivery of new homes in areas which need it most. At the same time, we want to tackle the problem of vacant, derelict land which blights our communities.
“We have a number of sites which are suitable for small schemes. Making them available to builders or individuals who want to build their own home makes eminent sense, as part of our wider work to provide affordable housing in every part of our city and attract people back into our communities.
“We will now be inviting submissions from individuals or organisations who want to work with us to deliver schemes. We are looking for projects of quality design, which can be delivered quickly, and which will complement the area in which they are located.”
Liverpool City Council will be advertising the available land and contacting small builders, community organisations, social housing providers, charities and people who want to build their own houses, to invite expressions of interest.
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PLANS have been submitted for a for a fourth speculative unit at the £50m Burnley Bridge Business Park.
The planned industrial space at Magnesium Court will add 10,000 sq ft to the 29,000 sq ft of blocks A and B which, together with the 64,100 sq ft Cobalt Building, form phase one at the 70-acre site.
Burnley Bridge is being developed by Leeds-based Eshton at junction 9 of the M65.
Managing director James Chapman said: “Burnley Bridge Business Park has been designed and masterplanned to offer a wide variety of flexible accommodation for industrial or distribution occupiers.
“The high level of interest received on the initial build has confirmed confidence in the market. By providing further speculative space in a phased manner, we are responding directly to pent-up demand for quality product and location.”
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The 250,000 sq ft Churchgate and Lee House on Oxford Street in Manchester is to undergo a £1m refurbishment.
Dunedin Property and US private equity house Angelo Gordon bought the building from CBRE Global Investors for around £23m in 2012.
An interior refurb has already taken place and the landlords now plan to install a new main reception in place of the existing entrance hal.
Anuj Mittal of Angelo Gordon said: “These buildings were an exciting acquisition for us, they form an integral part of our long term investment portfolio. Our decision to carry out this latest refurbishment of the reception areas reinforces our commitment to improving the offering of these landmark buildings.
“We are confident that Bluu, who have already undertaken substantial works on our behalf will deliver an end product that will further enhance the building.”
Joint agents at the building are CBRE and GVA.
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