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Work starts on £5.5m West Lancs regeneration scheme

Terraced properties in a West Lancashire town are being transformed into show homes as part of a £5.5 million regeneration scheme.

Work has now started on two rows of houses in Skelmersdale selected to showcase improvements as part of the Firbeck Revival project.

Over the coming months they will be fitted with new roofs, internal roof insulation and new external wall insulation along with replacement uPVC windows and doors.

In addition, brick bin stores will be removed and smart new canopies erected over the front doors. New kitchens have also been installed and work on new bathrooms is almost complete.

The Firbeck Revival project was drawn up following consultation with residents about how they wanted their homes to be improved. The show homes will enable residents to see the plans turned into reality and help them make choices about the colours and finishes they would like on their own homes.

Cllr Adrian Owens, portfolio holder for housing finance, said “This is a massive investment and improvement scheme that will bring improvements not only to the council-owned properties in Firbeck, but also to the privately-owned homes.

“We hope that the property owners will see the improvements in the show homes and join in the Revival project, so that the whole estate will benefit.”

Cllr Val Hopley, portfolio holder for landlord services, said: “When we asked tenants what improvements they wanted, new kitchens, bathrooms and insulation to help keep the houses warm were high priorities. We listened to what they said, and are now providing these.

“The Firbeck Revival project will transform the whole estate and I am already receiving feedback from tenants about how delighted they are with the improvements to their homes.”

Council officers are talking to tenants and property owners individually about the work that will be carried out on their homes. Tenants were given a choice of finishes for the new kitchens and bathrooms.

The council is offering grants to property owners to pay for the improvements to their homes enabling them to be included in the regeneration of the area.

The property owner would repay the grant when they choose or ultimately only when they decide to sell.

It is anticipated that work on the showcase properties will be finished by the end of the year, and that the whole Revival project will be completed during 2015.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .