On Thursday councillors approved the proposal to set up the body to develop new housing across the borough primarily for Sefton residents to purchase. Tony McDonough reports

Sefton Council is to create its own housing development company amid an “unprecedented” demand for new homes.

On Thursday councillors approved the proposal to set up the body to develop new housing across the borough primarily for Sefton residents to purchase.

For more than a year a project team has investigated the viability of the project and a confidential report was discussed at a council cabinet meeting at Bootle Town Hall.

Although it would be wholly owned by the authority it would be operated as a private company. It will be set up over the next few months after which it will start looking at possible development sites across Sefton.

When the council consulted on its 2030 Vision, ‘growing living and ageing well’ and a ‘making Sefton a great place to live, work and play’ came through as two strategic outcomes that residents wished the council to prioritise.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Communities and Housing, said: “A lot of time and effort has gone into looking at establishing a housing development company and we are now in a position to move this forward for the benefit of the whole borough.
“Through the 2030 Vision we have listened to what people have said and believe that the creation of such a company will ensure that we play a big part in providing a wider housing choice within the borough alongside other housing developers and registered providers.”