The “final piece of the jigsaw” of the redevelopment of a major housing development in Toxteth has been signed off.
The Welsh Streets are a group of late 19th century Victorian terraced streets in Toxteth. The houses were designed by Richard Owens and built by Welsh workers to house migrants from Wales who were seeking work.
Plans for more than a dozen new homes and a community hub on land bounded by High Park Street, Kelvin Grove and Wynnstay Street were given the green light by Liverpool Council’s planning committee this morning. The site is part of the wider Welsh Streets development, which is a partnership between Liverpool City Council, Placefirst and Plus Dane.
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James Litherland, head of planning at Placefirst, told the committee how completion of the new properties represented the “final piece of the jigsaw” for the Welsh Streets project. He said the new homes would be made available for long-term rent with work expected to get underway from next month.
A completion date of the end of 2024 was referred to by Mr Litherland. The Welsh Streets were the subject of a protracted planning battle that resulted in a public inquiry in 2014.
The current scheme from Place First which was eventually approved is being delivered over six phases and involves the retention of almost all the surviving houses in the area. Plans for the expansion of a YMCA scheme near Kensington was knocked back by the committee however.
After being deferred in November, councillors were asked to look again at an increase in units of supported accommodation from 17 to 22 at a YMCA facility on Lister Road, Fairfield. The site comprises a large semi-detached Victorian villa used to provide supported service units to people experiencing homelessness and, operated by YMCA Together.
Ellie McNeil, YMCA Together chief executive, said the service helps those experiencing homelessness and into treatment. She said: “Without services like us, people would be sleeping rough on our streets.”
The chief executive added how the additional five units would lead to five fewer people sleeping on the streets and improve accommodation. However, representations made by Merseyside Police indicated they did not support the plans.
A report submitted to the committee said the force had logged 19 crimes in two years for the address, including criminal damage, violence against persons and theft. It added: “An increase in the number of rooms to house five more residents could exacerbate existing problems, impacting residents, the local community and increasing demand on Police and other agencies.”
Objections were also raised in writing by ward councillors and as a result, the application was refused.
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