Redeveloping the historic Allerton Road Fire and Police Station to deliver 47 new homes focused on affordability and shared ownership in South Liverpool.
Region: North West and West Midlands
Theme: Housing (in OPE), Regeneration, Integrated Public Services, Blue lights
The challenge
Availability of shared ownership and affordable rent homes within the Allerton area is relatively low and the iconic but defunct Fire and Police Station building needed a new purpose. Bringing these ambitions together will help to bolster affordable living within the South Liverpool area.
The existing building, featured in The Beatles’ track Penny Lane, holds local value and the brief to the design team was to retain, wherever possible, the existing structure of the buildings.
The story
One Public Estate funding of £35,000 in 2015 enabled pre-construction, survey, and design advice in relation to the site.
The proposed outputs for the scheme included:
- co-location of the library service and police service into the vacant fire station
- relocation of home library delivery service into garage accommodation at the rear
- release of former staff accommodation as residential to the open market
- release of combined library and police sites for retail development or alternatively sheltered accommodation scheme of approximately 12,000 sq ft.
The outcomes (including cost savings/income generated if applicable)
Following the feasibility study and public consultation the project evolved to focus on the delivery of additional residential units with the retention of the public library in situ.
The site was originally owned by Liverpool City Council and was sold to the North West based Housing Association, Torus Group, in 2018. Planning was awarded for 47 homes in March 2020.
Work started on site in March 2021, with contractor Housing Maintenance Solutions, the construction arm of Torus, developing 40-unit independent living scheme of apartments, all available via affordable rent and seven homes for shared ownership.
Alongside this, as part of the £8 million development, an independent living scheme for over 55s is underway. The project is seeking a May 2022 completion.
Overall, the scheme will contribute to the preservation of the historic Allerton Fire and Police Station, preserving original features and meeting local demand for affordable housing.