Anfield residents are having their say on a new vision to improve the quality of housing and create new opportunities within the ‘COBRA’ neighbourhood.
The city council is undertaking an independent Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment (NRA) for the area, which is bounded by Oakfield, Breck Road, Oakfield Road and Walton Breck Road in Anfield and contains around 570 properties.
The NRA is gathering evidence about physical and social conditions within the neighbourhood – which is a gateway to Anfield from the south of the city – and arrive at options on how to build a stronger, more sustainable future for the area.
The city council is keen that the community is fully involved in the NRA, and local people were given the chance to share their ideas at a community planning event at the Anfield Breckside Community Corner l (ABCC), Richmond Park.
The event was facilitated by the Council and its consultants Pennington Choices and Triangle Architects. Representatives from local social housing providers Riverside Housing and Your Housing Group were also in attendance.
The council is now pulling together all comments received at the event – from quality of housing and shops to environmental and public realm improvements – to be fed into the draft NRA report. The report will be completed in March, before being shared will the local residents at the COBRA Stakeholders meeting in the Spring.
Councillor O’Byrne said: “Anfield is changing fast, and we want to make sure no resident is left behind. That’s why we are driving forward with this assessment, so we can explore what steps we can take to build a better future for the COBRA neighbourhood.
“The area really is unique. Each street has its own character and there is a strong, positive community spirit. Residents are extremely passionate about their neighbourhood and they are very keen to improve it. We want to work with them.
“I’m delighted that our community event was so well attended, because we want to make sure residents are at the heart of our plans and have the chance to have their say. All views are being taken on-board, and I’m looking forward us continuing to work with the community to draw up an action plan which delivers good quality housing, better shops and improved local job opportunities.”
COBRA stands for ‘Community of Old Barn Residents Association’ whose members represent the local community. The COBRA neighbourhood adjoins the area of Anfield which is currently undergoing £260m regeneration programme, including new housing, business and retail, new public space, a proposed expansion of Liverpool FC’s stadium and a range of new community facilities.
Liverpool City Council has already carried out internal and external surveys of a range of housing within the area, and this research will feed into the draft NRA report alongside social and economic information. Residents, businesses and landlords have also been sent survey forms to get their views.
Neighbourhood Renewal Assessments are the Government’s recommended method of generating options for neighbourhood regeneration in areas suffering housing stress and multiple deprivation.
Liverpool City Council has commissioned independent consultants Penningtons Choices and Triangle Architects to produce the NRA.
Residents who wish to provide the city council with comments about the future of the COBRA neighbourhood, to feed into the NRA report, can do so by e-mailing HousingStrategy&.InvestmentService@liverpool.gov.uk by Friday 21 February.
