Senior councillors in Sefton will be asked to approve the next steps towards the borough’s plan to build 1,000 new affordable and social homes in partnership with Sovini which is looking to build the next 230. Tony McDonough reports
Housing association Sovini will next week seek the go-ahead from senior Sefton councillors to begin the process that will lead to 1,000 new affordable and social homes.
Sovini has agreed to partner with the council on its Sefton 2030 mission to build 1,000 homes by 2030. Next week the council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the next stage of the plan that could see the construction of 230 homes.
This will see Sovini begin early feasibility work on further development sites. These are the Former Ainsdale Hope School site, the Professional Development Centre in Formby, and the former TT Cables/Peoples site in Bootle.
If approved, Sovini will be permitted to carry out surveys and investigate initial design ideas to look at how the sites can best meet local needs.
This partnership, first revealed in March sees council-owned land pooled with the Sovini Group’s development pipeline.
The former TT Cables/Peoples site was already on the council’s disposal list. Ainsdale Hope School and Formby Professional Development Centre have been identified as being surplus to operational requirements.
Plans for the Formby site will include commitment to working with Ravenmeols Community Centre to ensure the continued provision of community facilities in the area. All the sites have, for many years, been identified for new housing in the Local Plan.
Cllr Phil Hart, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing, said: “This is an important step. We are still at an early stage, and nothing will happen at these sites without further approval of detailed plans by the council.
“These plans will include, in relation to the Formby development, a commitment to ensuring new facilities for the Ravenmeols Community Centre.”
READ MORE: Huge Liverpool site earmarked for new development
READ MORE: Taxpayer to foot entire bill for £60m Pall Mall office scheme
No final decisions on disposal or development will be taken at this stage if the recommendations are approved by cabinet. Any proposals would have to secure planning approval and then be brought back to cabinet for full approval as well as public consultation.
Sovini chief executive Roy Williams added: “With phase 2 due to be reviewed by Sefton Council’s cabinet, we are taking another significant step forward in our shared vision for the borough.”