Liverpool to invest £7.3m tackling vacant properties
In a bid to start filling the more than 10,000 homes currently sitting empty in the city, the local authority will create a grant programme to help landlords with renovations.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet will vote tonight on its capital programme, which includes the provision for the £7.3m scheme. If approved, the project would enable 365 properties that have been vacant for more than a year to be brought back into use. In exchange, the city council would have the right to nominate tenants for the homes over the following three years.
Liverpool City Council estimates that the grants would save the organisation £13.3m by reducing the cost of temporary accommodation.
This is just one element of the capital programme that is up for approval.
The city council is also looking to provide £5.2m for the modernisation of leisure centres to provide new gym equipment, upgrade 3G pitches, and improve reception areas. This is the first part of a wider £30m programme that would also see new youth hubs brought into the city.
Another £4.75m will be committed to bringing new benches to a series of parks, resurfacing pathways, and installing litter bins. This money would also go towards upgrading 23 tired playgrounds, some of which contain play equipment that has been decommissioned after safety inspections.
In an attempt to keep streets clean, the city council will also roll out new communal bin hubs, building on a programme first instituted in 2018. This will represent a £2.2m investment and will take place over three years. Based off a project in Glasgow, the hubs are meant to reduce flytipping and encourage recycling.
Cllr Ruth Bennett, Liverpool City Council’s deputy council leader and cabinet member for finance, resources, and transformation, said: “We know that having things such as decent leisure facilities, play areas and parks, as well as clean streets, alleyways and properties that are not in a state of disrepair make a real difference to everyday life.
“This is about making sure that people feel they are getting value-for-money from their Council Tax and the money we are spending is used in their neighbourhood.”
Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson said: “These investments are possible because of the work we have done over the last couple of years in making our finances sustainable.
“It is an integral part of our journey to delivering quality, joined-up services in our neighbourhoods, which reflect the needs of local residents.”
