Affordable housing provider Plus Dane breaks ground on a £22m project to build 104 new homes on the site of a former Liverpool city region corporate headquarters. Tony McDonough reports
Work has started on a project to demolish the former Johnsons the Cleaners corporate headquarters and build 104 new homes.
In August LBN revealed that affordable housing provider Plus Dane had acquired the Bootle building, located on a five-acre site, in Bootle for an undisclosed sum from Liverpool property firm Ascot which acquired it in 2017.
Now Plus Dane will demolish the former office building and begin work on the £22m housing project. Phase one will comprise 67 homes out of the eventual 104 total. There will be 20 shared ownership apartments, and 84 homes for social rent.
United Living New Homes, a subsidiary of United Living Group, will deliver the scheme at Mildmay Road. It is being partially funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England.
This was formerly one of the largest dyeing and dry-cleaning operations in the world, placed strategically next to Liverpool docks so that it could clean the huge drapes from the first-class lounges of the city’s transatlantic liners.
Johnson Brothers began a silk dyeing business in Liverpool in 1817. Their purpose-built headquarters was opened by Lord Derby in 1910.
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City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram attended the groundbreaking ceremony. He said: “This development will breathe new life into a site that has historical significance, while addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in our region.
“By providing a mixture of homes, including family houses and shared ownership apartments, we’re creating opportunities for local families to thrive.
“This is about more than just bricks and mortar though, it’s about building strong, vibrant communities where everyone has the chance to put down roots.”
Ian Reed, chief executive of Plus Dane, added: “I am grateful for the support from Sefton Council, and grant funding from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which will help us deliver 104 much needed homes for the area.”