What's Happening In Your Area?

The housing market in the City Centre South Zone suffers from problems of low demand private housing, high vacancy rates and concentrations of sub-standard privately-rented houses.

Despite this, the area holds great potential for the future. In addition to its many buildings of distinctive character offering significant strength to build upon, the zone is located near to strong housing markets in the city centre, south Liverpool, Sefton Park and along the Mersey Waterfront. The Zone includes the Granby, Lodge Lane and Princes Park Renewal Areas.

Granby

Why has my area been chosen for development?

The Granby Renewal Area covers 800 properties and has been the focus of sustained regeneration activity since the early 1970's, tackling deep-rooted problems of housing market decline and poor structural conditions.

The area consists of a mix of larger Victorian houses and pre-1919 terraces, with a high proportion of RSL new housing. The area has great qualities, including the adjacent Conservation Areas, strong community ties within its multi-ethnic and multi-faith population, proximity to Princes Park and easy access to the city centre.

What is happening?

Developments continued within the Granby Renewal Area during 2008/09 with further discussions taking place with the community, Steve Biko and Architects to progress the plans for new homes on

Hatherley Street: Granby Community Partnership met regularly to consider redevelopment proposals for the Four Streets.

Ducie Street: is now completely vacant and will form Phase1 of the Lovell proposals.

Planning work continued with Gleeson to develop a high quality housing development (private for sale) for the cleared Ponsonby site. Habitat for Humanity continued the sweat equity scheme on Kingsley Road, with six units completed and a further six planned to go on site.

Residents and businesses in the area benefited from target hardening measures, helping them to feel safe and secure, through this period of transition.

The 'Four Corners' commission 08 was developed in partnership with the South Central Neighbourhood team, Arts in Regeneration (AiR) and the Capital of Culture team, which resulted in a series of 'Gathering' events held in the four corners of the Princes Park ward. After 'Mandy' Mandela Superlambanana, sponsored by the South Central Neighbourhood Team was purchased by National Museums Liverpool, Granby Sure Start centre acquired its very own Superlambanana, which was relocated from Newsham Park.

The year ahead will be important for the programme in Granby with the first demolitions proposed in Ducie Street. Community consultation will continue with key partners to progress the Four Streets and Hatherley Street proposals.

Further progress will be made on the Habitat for Humanity site, the planning application for the Ponsonby Street development will be submitted and work will commence with the Liverpool Muslim Society to provide land for expansion of the Mosque and service for local people.

The study of non-residential frontages on Granby Street will also be progressed.

How long will all this take?

The Granby Renewal area has been declared until 2010.

Lodge Lane

Why has my area been chosen for development?

The Lodge Lane Renewal Area covers 2,127 properties and is situated near both Sefton and Princes Park.

The area consists of a mix of larger Victorian houses, smaller pre-1919 terraces and areas of local authority / RSL infill development.

Although the area is predominantly sustainable, there are large elements of poor housing and evidence of partial market failure requiring targeted action, including some intervention to the run down shopping street, which lies at the centre of the area.

What is happening?

The Lodge Lane programme continued to progress during 2008/09 to pave the way for the future development of the area, starting with the demolition of 1 Aspen Grove, which had been a long-term void that had blighted the area for some time. Four long term voids in Maple Grove were brought back into use, to decent home standards through the Home Swap Scheme. Redevelopment proposals were progressed with a potential development partner for Fern and Moss Grove and the front environmental improvement programme was rolled out to Vandyke and Wordsworth Street.

A retail study of Lodge Lane itself was completed and talks were held with local businesses and the Muslim Enterprise Development Service about their involvement in the regeneration of this thriving commercial corridor.2009/10 will concentrate on progressing different elements of the programme. A community partnership will be established to facilitate and develop community engagement in the area. The redevelopment of the Lodge Lane corridor will be progressed by forming a steering group and appointing a development partner to take this forward.

The front environmental improvement programme will continue to be rolled out and complemented by environmental schemes to enhance the area, including the demolition of derelict properties on Fern Grove.

How long will all this take?

The re-development of Lodge Lane is expected to be a 10 year process.

Princes Park

Why has my area been chosen for development?

Located within the City Centre South Zone, Princes Park Renewal Area covers 2,653 properties and is situated between two of the main commuter routes Park Road and Princes Road.

The area consists of a high level of terraced housing that is less able to meet the needs and expectations of changing households or modern standards in terms of living space, thermal efficiency and density.

Within Princes Park, the Welsh Streets neighbourhood shows particularly strong signs of housing market failure and has therefore been identified as the main clearance area.

What is happening?

The programme in Princes Park includes the demolition of approximately 500 properties within the Welsh Streets neighbourhood.

Approximately 370 houses will be built by Gleesons, the lead developer, on the cleared site, with further new build developments proposed in nearby locations including:

• Clevedon Park, within the Renewal Area boundary. This development comprised 107 units for outright sale, rent and shared ownership, of which 105 were taken by residents from the nearby Welsh Streets clearance area.
  
• Northumberland Street, just outside the Renewal Area boundary. The development offers 60 properties for sale, rent and shared ownership.

This will provide the current community and people looking to move into the area with modern homes, gardens and parking facilities, which are not available with the current terraces.

Activities have been ongoing in Princes Park over the past 12 months with properties in Kelvin Grove (evens), High Park Street (114-124 / 150-160) and Admiral Street (99-107) being subject to a viability and sustainability study.

The rolling programme of front environmental improvements continued with an extra 72 homes benefiting from the works. Additional funding enabled completion of a further 34 properties as part of the Plus Dane Streets Ahead initiative. The scheme moved into the Dickens Streets where over 100 households signed up. Admiral Grove, one of the most visited streets in Liverpool due to the Beatles connection, benefited from its own makeover, with a new pavement being laid out of traditional York Stone. The majority of the terraced homes in the grove also received some front environmental improvements including new front step, gates, railings and side fences. Environmental clean up days were conducted with partners to address fly tipping and graffiti hot spots, which complemented the ongoing work to keep the area clean and green. The Northumberland development was completed in the wider area, providing 40 new houses with gardens and parking facilities along with 20 flats for the elderly.

The existing community facility at

204 High Park Street started its extension into what will become the neighbourhood resource centre at 1 - 3 Kelvin Grove. It will provide a valuable resource for the community creating a base for the clerk of works when the development activities begin, as well as a venue for consultation events, including drop-in sessions and the ongoing surgeries.

A major focus of 2009/10 will be progress proposals for the proposed Welsh Streets clearance area.

The Neighbourhood Resource Centre will be completed and officially launched and will provide a convenient base for the increased consultation that will take place surrounding the proposals for the Welsh Streets clearance area.

Demolitions will take place on the derelict blocks of properties on Park Road to make way for Phase 2 of the Northumberland Square development.

How long will all this take?

The re-development of Princes Park is expected to be a 10 year process.