This week, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority launched a £15m open call to developers as part of its Brownfield Land Fund to help deliver up to 4,000 new homes on previously developed land across the City Region.
St Helens Borough Council – as part of its commitment to a brownfield-fist approach to development – is encouraging all private sector, charitable bodies, or registered providers that have potential high-quality schemes on a brownfield site in the borough to apply for funding which the council will support through help and advice when it comes to preparing a bid.
Only last week, the local authority granted planning permission to housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey for the first phase of a development which will see 258 new homes, open space and sports pitches built at Moss Nook in the Sutton area of the borough, a large brownfield site historically used for mining and a number of heavy industrial processes.
With support from St Helens Borough Council, £2 million of funding was secured from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to support the remediation and infrastructure work necessary for this first phase of development, helping to fulfil the sites potential as one of the region’s largest single residential developments.
Welcoming the Brownfield Land Fund scheme, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities with responsibility for housing, Councillor Jeanie Bell, said:
“Over the years, the council and Liverpool City Region have worked closely to attract investment to bring derelict brownfield land back into use – the Moss Nook development being a fine example of that partnership – and I’m delighted to see the launch of this initiative which will allow more homes to be built on previously developed land across our borough and the wider City Region.
“Our residents and anyone looking to relocate to St Helens deserve good quality housing and we as a council will work hard to deliver that.
“We know from our evidenced-based research that we have high demand for housing across the borough, I would therefore urge developers and investors to look no further than St Helens Borough – a place of great potential with many strengths and opportunities.”
Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, added: “This scheme offers an opportunity to enable building on complex brownfield site to become easier through remediation works and will go towards our targets to provide residential development over the next 10 to 15 years.
“As a council we are committed to projects which will transform disused brownfield sites, turning wasteland into properties where future generations will call home for years to come. I would encourage any developer with a good-quality potential scheme on a brownfield site to apply for this funding and we’ll help you every step of the way.”
Developers wanting to apply for the Brownfield Land Fund have up until Wednesday 14 July to submit an application, more information for which can be found by visiting Call For Projects Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)
Funding application support is available for private sector, charitable bodies and registered providers looking to invest in brownfield housing developments in St Helens Borough by emailing seantraynor@sthelens.gov.uk