Placefirst is proposing to build 52 new homes at the award-winning location, delivering a mix of 1/2/3/4-bedroom houses as part of a wider 299-home masterplan. Tony McDonough reports
Plans have been submitted for the next phase of the £40m transformation of Liverpool’s award-winning Welsh Streets.
Placefirst is proposing to build 52 new homes in an £8m project, delivering a mix of 1/2/3/4-bedroom houses as part of a wider 299 home masterplan that includes the refurbishment of more than 300 Victorian terraced properties.
The rebirth of the formerly neglected estate to the south of the city centre has achieved national recognition and a string of awards.
Proposals for the new-build homes were shared with the local community and senior council officers at a public consultation event held at Placefirst’s marketing suite in December 2018.
Vacant sites
Located on Voelas Street, South Street and Wynnstay Street, the new homes will occupy a mix of longstanding vacant sites and areas where refurbishment has not been possible. Once delivered they will stitch together the historic street pattern of The Welsh Streets and transform South Street, a key pedestrian route currently characterised by blank gable walls.
They have been designed to create a modern, complimentary contrast with the Victorian terraces and use a palette of materials that ensure a consistent streetscape design across The Welsh Streets.
Similar to the refurbished properties, the new homes will have access to landscaped communal avenues which are replacing traditional yards and alleys typically associated with terraced housing.
Ongoing regeneration
Subject to planning approval and enabling works, Placefirst aims to begin construction by summer 2019, working with in-house contractor, Placefirst Construction.
David Smith-Milne, managing director of Placefirst, said: “These new designs for Welsh Streets will make a great contribution to the ongoing regeneration of this historic neighbourhood, and offer even more people a genuine alternative to volume housebuilder solutions that are increasingly homogenous and devoid of any genuine placemaking.
“At a time when build-to-rent is largely characterised by small, urban apartments aimed at the young, and ownership starter-homes offer little other that small, identikit houses disconnected from established communities, Placefirst are creating aspirational, larger and architecturally exciting homes.”