Liverpool City Council has launched a new consultation on its plans for housing.
This comes as the council has set out its vision up until 2030, with this bringing a commitment to 2,000 new homes every year, reducing the number of empty homes, and tackling homelessness. Once the draft housing strategy is implemented, it should shape the £1 billion+ building programme.
The strategy will also work in line with the government’s aims as it commits to developing on brownfield sites.
As Liverpool’s population is set to increase by 40,000 households in the next 20 years, the council is planning to use the housing strategy to address the fact that 52% if people in the city are living in either private or social rented homes – this being one of the highest ratios in the country. Also coming in the strategy is a commitment to doubling the number of affordable homes in the city to make sure that the housing market ‘works for first-time buyers’.
Four key themes will underpin the draft strategy, which has highlighted how 20% of the homes in the city don’t meet the ‘decent homes’ definition. To improve people’s health and support net zero ambitions, the four key themes are:
- Delivering quality homes that support needs and aspirations
- Improving homes and neighbourhoods
- Promoting healthier lives and sustainable homes
- Enabling access to a suitable home
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, said:
“Housing is the foundation for building a better quality of life which is why we want to focus on retrofitting poorly insulated homes to help reduce mould and energy bills and at the same time improve our carbon footprint.
“Good quality, suitable housing is also a major contributor to ensuing people access the services they need and helps the Council better address the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
“This draft strategy outlines our ambitions for improving Liverpool’s housing offer as well as helping to reduce homelessness.
“Achieving these ambitions will be reliant on the Council securing strong support from residents and stakeholders for this vision. Delivering the plan will also require intelligent collaboration with our partners, including the Combined Authority, Government and its agencies, developers, investors and housing providers.
“I’m confident Liverpool can get the country moving in launching a new era of quality, affordable homes.”
Alongside the strategy, the council has also announced that it is to launch a review into empty homes in the city, with this supporting a drive to tackling a shortfall in housing. This will involve writing to landlords of more than 8,000 empty properties.
Following the consultation, the final housing strategy is set to be approved by the council’s Cabinet in the autumn, with this then informing the new Local Plan.
Image credit: iStock
