31 July 2012
Liverpool City Council has updated its housing strategy for 2012-2015 to capitalise on the government’s £30million self build fund.
As local authorities are not eligible to apply directly for funding, the city council has put out a direct call to community groups, registered charities, community land trusts and companies which are registered as industrial and provident societies, who could be interested in working with the council on self-build schemes.
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Freeing up brownfield council land
The plans to support self-build aim to further strengthen the city’s four-year housing strategy, which also includes releasing council-owned brownfield sites at no cost, the delivery of 5,000 new homes; bringing empty property across the city back into use; a new mortgage scheme to help first-time buyers and making a £20 million housing fund available.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: “We don’t want local people to miss out on this opportunity, which is why we will be building support for self-build schemes into our housing strategy, freeing up council sites for organisations to build their own homes, and supporting groups who want to bid for funding.”
Organisations interested in working with the city council on the Government’s Self-Build initiative should contact Karen Locke, Housing Strategy and Policy Officer, on 0151 233 8234, or e-mail karen.locke@liverpool.gov.uk
