City Centre Living
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Since the mid 1990's, more people have wanted to live in the City Centre. Between 1971 and 1991, numbers of people living in the City Centre had dropped from 3,600 to 2,340. By 2007, the number had reached nearly 15,000. We expect this to rise to 20,000 by the year 2010.
When Liverpool Vision was formed in 1999, City Centre Living was one of its main priorities. Liverpool City Council has also endorsed City Centre Living since 1993. It is also included in the 1996 Draft Unitary Development Plan.
The huge rise in average property values:
Over the last six years there has been a large amount of capital and rental growth in property values in the City Centre. Instead of one bedroom studio flats, people now want to buy two bedroom apartments. These sell for an average price of £153,000.
The biggest rise in prices has been in traditional Georgian terraces in the Hope and Canning areas of the City Centre. These have risen from £97,500 in 2000 to an average of £227,000 in late 2005 (a rise of 132% in 5 years). This is a much higher increase than most of the rest of the UK.
Where the demand exists:
- In the 1990's, Liverpool had many empty office buildings. Some of these were listed and could not be made into modern offices. There were also empty spaces above shops and in Victorian warehouses. These vacant buildings and spaces have now been changed into beautiful homes for those who wish to live in the city centre.
- Although there are now less empty buildings which can be changed into homes, demand is still strong. People are looking for large, luxury 2 and 3 bedroomed homes. Some penthouse flats have been sold in 2006 for up to £1million.
The first high prices were shown when Beetham Plaza on The Strand came onto the market in June 2000; and Beetham Tower on Old Hall Street four years later.
National housebuilders have also shown interest. These include Morrison Homes, Bellway Homes and Crosby Homes.
Liverpool City - Student City:
Not just professional single/couples wish to live in the City Centre; it also attracts students. By the start of the 2005/6 academic year, over 8,132 bedspaces had been developed in the City Centre in just seven years.
The high levels of investment in places for students to live, as well as the success and growth of the universities, will see this trend continue.
Social Housing:
Social housing has not been forgotten. Riverside Housing Association spent £13million improving homes in the St Andrew's Gardens area between 1994 and 1999.
Housing Associations work closely with the City Council on the regeneration of Liverpool's suburbs, as well as the City Centre. They provide schemes for sale and co-ownership.
Examples of these include:
- Maritime Housing Association's schemes at Old Haymarket; Commutation Plaza next to Lime Street; and on Arts Village in Ropewalks.
- In 2003, Morrison Homes/Atrium completed 200 new apartments in a £20 million scheme at Kings Dock. 93 homes were for rent in association with Liverpool Housing Trust and Riverside Housing Association, and 107 for private sale.
City Centre Living and Council Policy
More people wanting to live in the City Centre has helped to make sure buildings which might have stayed vacant are now being used.
As more people live in the city centre, more support services are needed. Tesco Metro has been in the city centre for some years. More recently other food shops have opened here, including a Sainsburys Local.
Two walk-in health centres are open on Charlotte Street and at Marybone. A third has been recently completed at Cleveland Square. There are many dry cleaners, dentists and day nurseries.
The City Council and its partners, including Liverpool Vision, encourage the growth of city living. However, we would like to see more family homes built where possible.
As well as the £73 million City Centre Movement Strategy, work has been completed in the Ropewalks area, Old Hall Street and Hope Street. Work has also taken place in the Live Work District between Dale Street and Tithebarn Street.
St James Gardens has been improved. This has given Liverpool a large city centre green space. Work also took place on Great George Square in Ropewalks in 2005. Improvements are planned for Pownall and Cleveland Square.
All this work will make the city centre an attractive place to work, visit - and for residents of the city centre - to actually live in.
City Living Residential Update:
Twice a year, we produce an update on our housing programmes. Have a look at progress on schemes in the city centre. Download the current version - November 2007![(PDF [1.1Mb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
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You can also view previous editions
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Do you want to know more?:
For more information about City Living, visit the Liverpool Vision website