Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet is to decide whether the local authority can use its powers of compulsory purchase to unlock the next phase of the Anfield Project housing masterplan.
Approved in principle in October 2103, the council is seeking to use its compulsory purchase powers to acquire 23 property holdings around Anfield. The vast majority of which are cleared land the owners of which are unable to be contacted by the council.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “Throughout this process I have been clear that we would only use CPO powers as a last resort or if it was not possible to identify the owners of the properties in question. Completing the CPO will have a hugely positive economic impact on the Anfield area and there is a compelling case that we use these powers in this instance.
“This is another important step toward delivering the Anfield we all want to see: a bustling and vibrant area which provides a great place to live, work and visit.”
Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Using CPO at this time will give our housing partner certainty allowing them to bring forward a new detailed planning application contributing to the delivery of over 600 new homes in Anfield.
“The vast majority of these properties or unused or cleared land. There are two small businesses and the tenant of a private landlord who are affected by this. We will work closely with them to support them through the process.”
Private sector housing partner Keepmoat, has already delivered the first two phases on The Parks development and is close to completing the third phase. All told, these three phases will provide 398 new homes and using the CPO, the city council will unlock the fourth phase to deliver a further 100 homes.
Depending on whether objections are received by the Council,the CPO process could be complete as early as October 2014.