Placefirst finishes £43m Welsh Streets project
The total number of homes across the Liverpool neighbourhood reached 296 after the sixth and final phase delivered 13 houses.
Welsh Streets is part of a collaborative masterplan conceived in 2016 between Placefirst and Liverpool City Council.
Its aim was to transform an impoverished area in Toxteth into a vibrant community, with accommodation fit for almost 700 residents.
Build-to-let developer Placefirst invested more than £42.8m into the nine streets that make up the Welsh Streets area.
The plans were drawn up by architect MBED and Curtins was the civil engineer.
WSP was the planning agents working on behalf of Placefirst.
Built by contractor Urbanise, phase six developed a housing mix of five one-bed and three two-bed apartments, as well as five three-bed houses.
The Welsh Streets was set for demolition in the early 2000s, but a successful local campaign prevented destruction and instead promoted regeneration. Credit: via Google Earth
As part of the transformation, a 400 sq ft community hub providing a place for local collaboration and engagement has been built.
In addition, the neighbourhood has green space stretching over 54,000 sq ft.
Each of the homes has an EPC rating of C+ and are fitted with solar panels to reduce carbon usage.
A viability report by Roger Hannah demonstrates that it is not viable for affordable housing to be provided as part of the scheme.
Speaking of the completion, David Mawson chief executive of Placefirst, said: “Our mission to transform this once-neglected area into a neighbourhood that instils pride and delivers lasting social and economic benefits has driven this ambitious eight-year project.
“As our growth continues at pace, Welsh Streets remains a flagship development that has set a standard for what to expect as we look to continue enhancing communities through the growth of our single-family rental portfolio.”
The first three phases of Placefirst’s masterplan included the refurbishment of 99 homes, completed in 2020.
Phases four and five were finished two years later.
Placefirst has said that the developments have added £1.7m annually to the local economy, according to planning documents.
Also on the project team was Markhams as the employers agent and Hannans covering M&E.
Mawson added: “We look forward to the continual progression of this exciting development and are proud that it will provide local people affordable modern properties as an alternative to buying a house.”
To see the planning application for phase six of the Welsh Streets plan, use the reference 22F/1573 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
This would not have been possible without the housing market renewal programme which purchased most of the houses under a government programme with the aid of a deemed Compulsory Purchase Order. Most of these properties are effectively brand new behind the retained facades. Just shows how successful public interventions like this can be if given enough time to be seen through to completion and delivered to the right quality
By Anonymous
The development looks great but asking for £1200-£1400 a month for a 3 bedroom terrace (in Toxteth) can’t be considered affordable surely?
By Anon
It was Eric Pickles who saved these houses, as under John Prescott they would have been totally flattened.
These terraced streets have now been saved and look very attractive, can we please now get those wonderful houses on Ducie St repaired as at present it looks like a war zone.
By Anonymous
I remember the objections of residents nearby who didn’t want the homes refurbished because they’d be nicer than their own (subsidised) housing. And, whilst Eric Pickles was instrumental in their rescue, the negative PR that followed the suggestion that Ringo Starr’s home was to be demolished seemed to focus a few minds.
By Anonymous
I hope these homes are prioritised for local residents to buy and rent. I grew up in the area and now its become impossible to buy anything here.
By Anonymous
Sept 14, 9.10pm this “local ” thing gets a bit tiresome , so if someone local wants to buy or rent somewhere else should they be de-prioritised. Or is it ok if a local bought their council house and is renting it out to someone else from outside . Liverpool was once an open city, housing people from China, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, West Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, etc .
Once a world city but which now in certain quarters is so inward looking.
The very term Welsh Streets tell you where most of the residents had come from and who built them.
By Anonymous