Council plans Anfield CPO vote

Councillors in Liverpool will be asked next week to approve the potential use of compulsory purchase orders to acquire 30 properties in Anfield to enable £260m of regeneration projects to go ahead.

The council said properties were needed to make way for new housing, retail, public space, offices, a 100-bed hotel and a new square. As part of the improvements, Liverpool Football Club has stated its preference is to expand its stadium subject to detailed feasibility studies and the community and home owners' support. There is also a proposal to complete the restoration of Stanley Park and to build a 10,000 sq ft food hub at its centre which would offer food retail units, production and training facilities.

The council says it wants in-principle approval for CPOs so they can be used as a last resort if it is unable to reach a sale agreement with property owners or, in some cases, is unable to trace the owners of derelict properties.

The council believes, however, that the vast majority of the 30 properties, which are derelict or sub-standard, will be acquired through negotiation and without having to resort to CPOs.
A consortium led by Liverpool City Council, including Your Housing Group, unveiled in June a vision to transform the Anfield area of the city close to and around Walton Breck Road.

In total, there were some 699 properties in designated clearance zones in the Anfield and Everton areas. Out of those, 279 have already been demolished or are in the process of being demolished. Of the remaining 420 properties, 346 have already been purchased or agreement to purchase them has been reached. Negotiations are progressing well on others.

A report seeking in principle consent to use CPO powers will be considered by the city council's cabinet on Friday 25 October.