Sefton to sell old Bootle school site for affordable scheme
Part of the former Bootle High School site is set to be sold by the council to One Vision Housing to facilitate the building of a 53-home project.
Should the deal be confirmed, the Sefton Council hopes construction at the site off Browns Lane in Bootle will begin this financial year.
Sandway Homes won permission in June 2024 for a private sale housing-led scheme, comprising 45 homes for outright sale and eight affordable properties.
According to the cabinet report, “unprecedented” demand for affordable housing has forced the council into a rethink, and now the 4.5-acre site will be taken forward by One Vision Housing, with Sandway’s application forming the basis of the scheme.
One Vision Housing will provide two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes and switch the site from a market-led to an affordable scheme, with slight alterations to housing types.
Officers are expected to work with One Vision Housing to finalise the tenure mix for the homes, with an intention to provide a mix of social rent and low-cost home ownership options.
- BOOK NOW: Place RESI 2025
John McCall Architects is the architect behind the scheme’s design. Each home would have a private garden and sport an EPC B rating to improve sustainability and keep residents’ bills low.
Sefton Council has requested that the land be revalued by Homes England before it moves to complete a land sale contract, and One Vision Housing has signified its intent to seek grant funding from the housing body.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “The Bootle High site provides Sefton Council with the opportunity to work with One Vision Housing to create 53 new affordable family homes that will help tackle that need in line with the Government’s news, national housing policy.
“We will be working with One Vision to finalise the best mix of two-, three-, and four-bed family homes with the right combination of social rent and low-cost ownership options.”
“Having high-quality homes they can afford provides families with the stability they need and with the security that helps ensure our young people don’t miss out on education and other opportunities for life.
“I hope my colleagues will agree that this is a great opportunity to provide residents with a choice of affordable housing types and tenures.”
Roy Williams, group chief executive at One Vision Housing, added he was keen to carry out a “crucial initiative” with Sefton Council to provide “much-needed social housing”.
I would object to to this. Houses like this on green space should be open for play areas. More money making racket
By David Watson
Defeneley not nowhere for kids to play now
By Tommy
Why can’t you build 1 /2 bedroom bungalows on this site instead of houses ? We are the biggest boomer generation ever and yet there is nowhere for us to live in Netherton…you could also build a sheltered accommodation for those who don’t want to live on their own….there is nothing like this in Netherton….I’m 70yrs old and live 14 stairs up in a one vision flat…I’m now struggling getting up and down the stairs due to osteoarthritis in my knees and back…I only go out for appointments ,I’m diabetic and have other health problems….a Bungalow would be ideal for me…and it could be a gated community for aged 55 onwards…I know a few people who would give up their 3 bedroom one vision houses because of there ages if they had somewhere nice to live…that site is ideal as it’s right by the shopping centre, Doctors surgery, health clinic, buses etc…I do wish you would honestly consider my option seriously, I’ve lived in Netherton for 58 yrs…as a child, a worker, and an adult.. and it’s about time us ” Oldies” were giving safe, secure, housing accommodation, at our time in life we cannot afford half rent half buy or mortgages…hope you will give us some consideration…thank you…
By Irene
How can only 8 affordable homes be an acceptable amount of houses ..while 45 for outright sale for Ssndways Homes who will be making a nice profit..
By Angela
Great news for the area, much needed housing. We’ll done Councillor Atkinson, great to see Sefton Council being very proactive and in touch with local people’s needs.
By Anonymous
About time too, should have been built on years ago instead of green belt building!
By Anonymous
Rented housing mixed with ownership does not work unless the rented tenants are vetted
By Anonymous
I hope you’re not going to chop any trees down , like sandway done on the site opposite Buckley hill 😉…maybe strengthen the canal ,that runs alongside bootle high school site …As it flooded some yrs back ….Thank you …
By Paul Baxter
Please please ensure these houses are attractive to look at. So often social housing developers scrimp on cost to the detriment of good design
By Anonymous
I agree with Irene yes there is a need for affordable bungalows for over 55s as a gated community & regarding the social rent & low cost ownership does cause problems it needs to be vetted properly
By Anonymous
Usually the company have to build a few to be tented to council tenants then the rest will be sold. Look at other housing estates in Bootle, the one next to Christ church school, 5 are rented to social housing tenants the rest were sold.
By Bootlegirl
Yet again … another green space built on… how about making bungalows for the elderly… on this site ..as a pensioner myself…l can see we are not high on the Agenda when it comes to practical housing …..and also let’s not forget the physically disabled on this !! … seems Sefton Council will sell their soul to the highest bidder for the right price…. Regardless if it fits the needs of the Neighbourhood ….? …Netherton should be getting better all round … in lots of aspects… but unfortunately isn’t …when we don’t have enough bins !…: ! A terrible Shopping Centre …. Dirty streets with broken pavements …Come on Sefton Council … don’t treat Netherton and the residents as second class citizens… we deserve the same money spent on Netherton as you do on Maghull … Formby … and the surrounding areas … Open your eyes to what we need …. Not what we don’t need !!!
By Margie