Affordable housing provider Torus is set to get the go-ahead this week for a new multi-million pound residential development in the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Council planners are recommending approval for a multi-million pound residential scheme in the Baltic Triangle.
Affordable housing provider Torus is proposing a single building split into two blocks – of eight and 10 storeys – fronting onto Norfolk Street and Brick Street. It will comprise 93 apartments and will be a car-free development.
There will be 45 one-bedroom apartments, 45 two-bedroom apartments, and three three-bed apartments, including 21 wheelchair-accessible units. There will also be commercial units on the ground floor.
All of the apartments will be offered for ‘Rent to Buy’. This is a Government-subsidised scheme where people pay an ‘affordable’ rent (no more than 80% of local market rate) with an option to buy the property within five years.
This development covers a cleared site formerly occupied by Liver Grease Oil & Chemicals Company. Collapsed developer Crossfield had originally proposed a 200-bed hotel for this location.
This is the second Crossfield site Torus has taken on in the Baltic. In January 2023 it appointed its in-house construction arm HMS to complete The Vaults in St James Street. This £9.8m scheme comprises 64 apartments as well as commercial space.
Construction was halted in early 2022 when Crossfield Construction collapsed into administration. The Vaults will see 64 homes available under Rent to Buy.
This latest scheme will be considered by councillors at the city council planning committee on Tuesday, June 4, with officers recommending the scheme be approved.
READ MORE: Liverpool reveals strategy for 8,000 new homes
They are also recommending approval for a scheme put forward by Cert to convert a Liverpool city centre office building, close to Moorfields Station, into a residential development.
Cert took over Centric House in 2018 and refurbished the office accommodation but has now taken the decision to convert it for residential use.