Liverpool affordable housing provider Regenda Group secures consent for 34 of 70 new homes in New Ferry, a Wirral district left devastated by a huge explosion in 2017. Tony McDonough reports
A district of Wirral left devastated by a huge explosion in 2017 will see the first of 70 new homes built after council planners gave the go-ahead.
Liverpool affordable housing provider Regenda Group has secured consent for 34 new homes in New Ferry. The one and two-bedroom apartments will be built on Bebington Road and Boundary Road.
On a Saturday evening in March 2017, a huge gas explosion ripped through the district. It destroyed buildings, including Griffiths the Butcher and Chinese restaurant Lan’s House, and injuring more than 80 people.
The blast could be heard several miles away and it was a miracle no one was killed. In October 2019, furniture shop owner Pascal Blasio was jailed for 20 years for causing the blast in a botched attempt to claim £50,000 insurance.
He had denied being responsible but was convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.
A year ago LBN reported that Wirral Council had chosen Regenda to build 71 new homes in the area. This has now been amended slightly to 70. Work on the first 34 will start in autumn 2023.
Martin Davies, director of development for Regenda, said: “After extensive public consultation, I am delighted that Wirral Council have granted planning approval for these properties.
“This development will bring modern, energy efficient homes to the area, with a range of tenures to suit the needs of local people.”
These homes will be built by M&Y Maintenance and Construction, a division of the Regenda Group, that has been building and maintaining homes for more than 40 years.
Affordable rent properties will be let through housing association, Regenda Homes, and Rent to Buy homes will be let through Merseyside based property specialist, Redwing. All are part of Regenda Group.
An affordable rented home is one where the rent is set at no more than 80% of local market rates.
Construction is expected to take around 18 months and the properties have been designed by John McCall Architects. A planning application for the next phase will made over the coming months.
Michael Birkett, chief executive of The Regenda Group, added: “This is a truly transformational project that will see the regeneration of New Ferry.
“We’re not only building great quality, affordable homes, we’re investing in the wider community.
“This development will offer apprenticeships through The Learning Foundry and we want to engage with local schoolchildren through aspirations partner, Positive Footprints.”