Liscard town centre affordable housing plans set to take next step
Development of up to 100 new affordable homes is set to take a key step forward as Wirral Council seeks a partner to bring the plans to fruition.
The site of former municipal offices demolished last year in central Liscard will be used to build the much-needed new homes.
The council is now seeking to appoint a Lead Development Partner to work with it on developing affordable housing on the site just off Seaview Road.
It is expected that approximately 100 new affordable homes could be built in the heart of the town centre by repurposing the site of the former municipal offices and adjacent car park.
Councillor Paula Basnett, Leader of Wirral Council, said:
Increasing the supply of good quality affordable housing is a key priority for Wirral and this proposed development is another important step towards meeting local demand.
It is also a significant opportunity to transform a prominent council owned site and bring new investment into the heart of Liscard.
This is about more than providing new homes. Bringing more people into the town centre can increase footfall, support local businesses and play an important part in the wider regeneration of Liscard.
We now want to work with the right development partner to deliver a high-quality scheme that makes the best use of this site and brings lasting benefits to the local community.
The former Liscard Municipal Offices fronting onto Egerton Grove and the adjacent carpark accessed by Seaview Road were declared surplus to requirements by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee (12th July 2023) and subsequently demolished.
The development aligns with the regeneration plans for Liscard which are guided by The Liscard Neighbourhood Framework: An Integrated Masterplan. Approved in November 2021, it sets out a vision for a town that is more locally distinctive and community focused, while supporting its economic growth. The council has secured £10.78m of funding for Liscard's regeneration programme from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 3, alongside a contingency of £1.2m available from council funding if costs rise, with wider plans for the town currently in development.
In addition, Wirral's Housing Strategy 2026-2031 and Delivery Plan sets out the progress being made against the borough's long-term housing priorities. In Wirral there is a high need for all types of affordable housing across the borough, with the greatest pressure for the council for rented affordable housing.
A recent update to the council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee noted that whilst the overall housing register has reduced by approximately 20% since June 2024, demand for social and affordable housing remains significant.
Meeting Wirral's growing need for affordable housing requires a range of solutions. The Government has recently encouraged councils to make better use of publicly owned land to support housebuilding, and this is an approach Wirral is already actively taking forward through its Affordable Housing Plan.
The council’s approach combines acquisitions, partnership working and the use of Council-owned land to help increase both Council-owned homes and the overall supply of affordable housing across the borough as part of the wider Strategic Housing Partnership.
The proposed disposal of the Liscard site is an opportunity to help unlock investment and bring forward up to 100 affordable homes while supporting the wider regeneration of the town centre. By working alongside housing associations and development partners, the council aims to maximise opportunities to deliver more affordable homes for local people.
A capacity study has indicated the Liscard site can deliver up to 100 new affordable homes and the council now seeks a partner to help deliver the units which will be 100% affordable housing.
