Housing association plans gateway work

Liverpool Mutual Homes is to spend £40m improving its stock along prominent main routes in the city in the next two years.

The work will be carried out in areas leading to Everton FC and Liverpool FC stadiums, Aintree Racecourse, the docks and Peel's proposed Liverpool Waters development area.

In total 3,990 homes will receive new fences, over 500 new roofs will be fitted, 4,200 homes will benefit from roof repairs, and the communal areas of 140 flats will be overhauled. The streets affected are Waterloo Road leading to Regent Road; Great Howard Street leading to Derby Road; Vauxhall Road leading to Commercial Road; Scotland Road leading to Kirkdale Road and Walton Road. Gates, gardens and public green land will also enjoy significant makeovers.

The project is part of the GreenPrint for Growth strategy for improving the environmental quality of north Liverpool led by Liverpool Vision.

Steve Coffey, chief executive of LMH, said: "Our work with Liverpool Vision under the GreenPrint for Growth programme will make a huge difference to the people and communities of north Liverpool that have been left neglected for far too long.

"We have a large number of properties in the area and this regeneration scheme will complement the £380m improvement programme we are carrying out to homes that sees us investing £65.8m this financial year.

"Residents will benefit from an improved standard of living and it will paint a far better picture of the city for potential investors and the millions of tourists who visit landmarks like the football grounds, the Docks and Aintree Racecourse every year.

"It is vital for Liverpool's growth and prosperity that organisations like LMH help social enterprises and smaller businesses so offering them the chance to bid for multi-million pound contracts to deliver the environmental works gives them and the local economy a huge boost."

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said: "This is a major step forward for the GreenPrint for Growth initiative.

"We need to make the wider area ready for investment and LMH's involvement will help improve the quality of place for the benefit of residents, help attract future investment and encourage business start ups and growth and crucially create jobs."

LMH owns 15,000 homes that were transferred from Liverpool City Council in 2008.