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Empty properties in Liverpool to be brought back to life

A row of empty Grade II Listed Georgian Town Houses in the cultural quarter of Liverpool are set to be brought back into use as part of a major drive to tackle vacant properties in the city.

The nine properties on Percy Street, which are owned by Liverpool City Council and leased to Sanctuary Group, have been empty for a number of years and are in need of investment to bring them back into use.

The accommodation, which has previously been converted into a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, will be marketed in mid-March with the aim of selecting a developer by early summer this year.

Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Housing at Liverpool City Council, Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: “These striking period properties have remained unoccupied for too long, and we are determined to find a way of returning them to their intended use as soon as possible.

“We are pleased to be working in partnership with Sanctuary to make sure they become occupied again and complement the area.

“This is part of our 10 point plan to really drive up the standard, range and quality of homes in Liverpool.

“We have already brought 1,500 properties back into use over the last couple of years, and have plans for another 2,000 over the next few years.

“The marketing of the properties in Percy Street is a good example of our innovative approach to tackling the problem of long term vacant homes.”

Project director at Sanctuary Group, Helen Wright, said: “We have been working hard with the council to find a way forward for this project and are delighted to now be at a stage where the properties can go to market.

“We are confident their sale will help breathe new life into the accommodation and preserve the heritage of these buildings.”

The successful purchaser will be required to start on site with the works as soon as possible and have the properties back in use within a year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .