Cabinet to consider early work on 230-home Sefton housing plan
Sefton Council’s Cabinet will consider the next stage of a partnership that could bring around 230 new homes to Ainsdale, Formby and Bootle.
At its meeting on Thursday 23 July, councillors will be asked to allow The Sovini Group to begin early feasibility work on three council-owned sites: the former Ainsdale Hope School, the Professional Development Centre in Formby and the former TT Cables/Peoples site in Bootle.
The work would include surveys and initial design investigations to assess how the sites could meet local housing needs. The homes could include social housing for rent, shared ownership and other forms of home ownership.
No final decision on the disposal or development of the sites would be made at this stage. Any future scheme would need planning permission before returning to Cabinet for approval, and residents and community organisations would be invited to comment during consultations for each site.
The Formby proposals would include a commitment to work with Ravenmeols Community Centre to maintain community facilities in the area. The effect on local infrastructure and services would also be assessed through the planning process.
The three sites have been identified for housing in Sefton’s Local Plan, which was adopted in 2017. The former TT Cables/Peoples site was already on the Council’s disposal pathway, while the Ainsdale and Formby sites have been declared surplus to operational requirements.
Sefton Council and The Sovini Group signed the Sefton 2030 partnership in March. Its aim is to deliver 1,000 new social and affordable homes across the borough by the end of the decade, using council-owned land alongside Sovini’s development pipeline.
Cllr Phil Hart, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Everyone deserves a safe, good-quality home. It’s key to a safe, happy and fulfilling life. Sefton 2030 is about making that a reality in our borough.”
He added that the partnership could bring forward unused sites and deliver “the right mix of over 200 new homes for local people”, while creating jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.
Roy Williams, chief executive of The Sovini Group, said phase one developments across several sites were entering the planning stages. He said Sefton 2030 would support “community reinvestment, employment and sustainable economic growth”.
Information about the proposals is available through Sefton Council’s Sefton 2030 frequently asked questions page and the Sefton 2030 website.
