Tancred Road L4, has been one of Liverpool’s most notorious addresses even by the worst standards of derelict housing.
Not so now!
Frank Hill spent most of his life in No. 10 of Tancred until he was literally carried out by fire fighters five years ago, after an arson attack (one of many) on the house next door to him was caused and smoked filled his home.
He has now returned to visit the property and to praise the company who is regenerating the area, ‘The Affordable Housing Company’ (AHDC) who he shared this emotional moment with.
Franks old house, is now ready for occupation once more after 15 years of blight and dereliction as are all 28 properties on the street which have been left for the same time or longer.
Now they have been restored to pristine, traditional, Victorian style on the outside yet modern, sleek and luxurious on the inside.
Ian Robinson, Chief Executive for AHDC, explains why this project in association with Arena Housing and Liverpool City Council is startling the housing world.
“First of all AHDC provide all the money and take all the risk in this regeneration model.
Normally regeneration costs the tax payer a fortune but this model actually puts money back in the public purse.
If AHDC make a profit we have to share the overage with our partners. However since the main objective is to provide affordable homes this is kept to a minimum.”
The scheme in Tancred Road is the first of its type in the UK, AHDC maintain that this is no small thanks to the North West government pathfinders, ‘New Heartlands’, who have evaluated the scheme, nominated and granted it an award and continues to recommend the use of the model elsewhere in the UK.
AHDC plan to spend £30 million in the Rockfield area alone, in as many as 243 houses.
Long time residents are delighted that relief to their nightmare is almost over.
For years they have been dealing with the local ‘yob’ culture in the area due to social decline, coping at times with daily arson attacks and vandalism on their properties and surrounding properties.
AHDC have restored confidence and value in their homes and area, one resident even said today, “ I don’t know why this scheme works it just does. My home was worth nothing last year it is now worth over £100,000. This scheme is fantastic!”
