Liverpool Mutual Housing have just spent nearly £1 million on renovating a block of flats which had become a magnet for vandals. Now they’re bright, modern homes with a future! We think it’s great to see, and so we decided to highlight the good work the guys at LMH have done!
A local housing block, which was rundown and a prime spot for vandalism and other anti-social behaviour has been renovated and transformed into eco apartments.
Prescot House in Old Swan, was originally built in the 1950s and comprised 15 homes – 9 bedsits and 6 one bed flats. Following an injection of cash, to the tune of almost £1 million, the flats have been turned into 13 energy efficient apartments, 9 with one bedroom and 4 with two bedrooms.
Although, seven of the apartments have been given up to the original tenants, there were 6 more homes to give away to those who applied. A staggering 160 applications were received and the lucky applicants due to move in very soon.
The old tenants were delighted with the results. David Bunce, told the Liverpool Echo, “I lived here before the work was carried out and the difference is like night and day. My home is barely recognisable now. The kitchen and bathroom are incredible and everything is so modern it’s like something you see in a magazine.”
“I’m now looking forward to making it my home whereas before it was just somewhere I lived.”
The homes were improved with a variety of eco-friendly measures, including insulating internal walls and loft space, installing mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems and fitting LED lighting and A rated double-glazed windows. Even the taps are thermostatically controlled, and the toilet cisterns come with dual flush as standard.
Each of the flats feature Grohe taps, Porcelanosa tiles and Manhatten kitchens that are bespoke to each apartment.
The homes were transformed by Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) whose Director of Assets and Enterprise Maggi Howard said it was “great to see tenants so happy with where they live.”
She continued “Prescot House was in a terrible state and in drastic need of repair to bring it up to high standards we have set with our five-year, £400m Improvement Programme across the city.”
“We are creating homes that are warm, energy efficient, clean and modern to give not only the properties a new lease of life but tenants too.”
With new research released by St. Mungu’s homeless charity suggesting that nearly half of adults in Britain fear becoming homeless because of high-energy prices, it’s encouraging to see a local housing firm taking such a responsible view to provide good quality, affordable housing homebuyers in Liverpool.
The improved quality of housing should also see an increase in tenants. At least that’s the hope of LMH. Maggi said, the old bedsits “were unpopular with little room to set up home, tenancy turnover was high and vacancy rates were long as they were difficult to let.” She said the renovations had “addressed a wide range of issues.”
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Gary Millar, opened the building. He told the press, “this is one of the best refurbishments I have seen in some time. A real turnaround for the community.”
“It is fantastic that these rundown properties in Old Swan have been transformed into affordable, modern homes for people to enjoy.”
No Comment