Liverpool councillors question plan for 1800 waterfront homes

Liverpool councillors fear there may not be a market for many of the 1800 homes planned in a flagship waterfront development.

The Kings Dock project is backed by the city’s urban regeneration company, Liverpool Vision, and would also include a 9500-capacity arena, a 1500-seat conference centre and two hotels.

Work was expected to start before the end of the year on the development’s first 300 homes – 25% of which are expected to be affordable.

But the city council’s regeneration select committee have quizzed Kings Dock’s project director on the need for so many properties.

The councillors claim there are too many houses planned for the area and question whether there is a market for these homes.

Committee chairman Cllr Eddie Clein said: “We felt there was an over-preponderance of housing being earmarked for that site.

“We were unhappy about this from an aesthetic point of view and because we felt that instead, there should be services and facilities that complement the arena, hotels and conference centre – perhaps a retail element.

“We also felt the plans do not include enough parking provision for the number of houses that are being proposed.

“The volume of housing going up in the city is astronomical. Some of the councillors on the committee were questioning whether they can sell this housing and we don’t feel the answers we were given were very convincing.”

Kings Dock has already been dogged by rising costs – its original £100m price tag has increased to £142m – and Liverpool Vision says the project’s financial viability depends on the housing.

A Liverpool Vision spokesman said: “We’ve got a very good balance of uses on this scheme.

“The amount of housing fits in with the demand for the city and in terms of density fits in with government guidelines. The car parking suggested is backed up by our business plan.

“We are confident we will be able to sell these homes. This is a prestigious waterfront site and there is a lot of life left in the housing market in Liverpool.”

A planning application was submitted to Liverpool council in June and a decision is expected in November.

If approved, Liverpool Vision says work could be finished by August 2007, in time for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.