New lease of life for empty Georgian properties in Liverpool
A row of empty Grade II Listed Georgian
Town Houses in the sought after cultural quarter of Liverpool are set to be
brought back into use as part of a major drive to tackle vacant properties in
the city.
The 9 properties on Percy Street, which are owned by Liverpool City Council and
leased to Sanctuary Group, have been empty for a number of years and are in need
of investment to bring them back into use.
The accommodation, which has previously been converted into a mix of one and
2-bedroom apartments, will be marketed in mid-March with the aim of selecting a
developer by early summer this year.
Selection of the chosen developer will focus on the proposed use of the
properties, experience of delivering similar projects and timescales for the
works to be complete.
Councillor Ann O'Byrne, Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Housing at
Liverpool City Council, said:- "These striking period properties have
remained unoccupied for too long, and we are determined to find a way of
returning them to their intended use as soon as possible.
We are pleased to be working in partnership with Sanctuary to make sure they
become occupied again and complement the area.
This is part of our 10 point plan to really drive up the standard, range and
quality of homes in Liverpool. We have already brought 1,500 properties back
into use over the last couple of years, and have plans for another 2,000 over
the next few years. The marketing of the properties in Percy Street is a
good example of our innovative approach to tackling the problem of long term
vacant homes."
Helen Wright, Project Director at Sanctuary Group, added:- "We have been
working hard with the council to find a way forward for this project and are
delighted to now be at a stage where the properties can go to market. We are
confident their sale will help breathe new life into the accommodation and
preserve the heritage of these buildings."
The successful purchaser will be required to start on site with the works as
soon as possible and have the properties back in use within a year.
