Plans for the regeneration of Liverpool's notorious Norris Green estate have finally been submitted to the city council for rubberstamping by planners.
The plans replace the original vision for the estate – known as the Boot estate – which was condemned as "inappropriate, undeliverable and unaffordable" by the council (HT 5 December 2002, page 7).

The ensuing scandal led to the resignation of Liverpool's popular executive member for housing, Richard Kemp (HT 19 December 2002, page 10).

Councillor Flo Clucas, Kemp's successor, said: "I spent a long time talking to tenants. They have said what they want. They did not want waterfalls, streams, parking sheds at the end of the roads or curved roofs. I think we are now in a position where things will move forward."

As a result of tenant feedback, the new plans include:

  • a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes
  • bungalows for pensioners, rather than flats
  • back and front gardens
  • parking spaces
  • few changes to the estate layout.

The plans represent the first phase of the regeneration, which will eventually see 1500 council homes replaced with 1700 new properties. Only 25% of these will be social housing, managed by Liverpool Housing Trust.

The project was originally valued at £170m but could be worth more now because of rising property prices. The council said any profits from the sale of land would be ploughed back into social housing on the estate.

Developer Bishop Loch submitted the planning application – for 500 homes – to the council on 20 August and expects a response in mid-September.

Demolition on the site has begun, with £3.2m secured from English Partnerships for this year's clearance work.

Source

Housing Today