Liverpool councillors approve residential scheme close to the city centre that will see the construction of 93 ‘affordable’ homes for rent. Tony McDonough reports

Brickworks, a scheme by Torus in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle

Affordable housing provider Torus has secured planning consent for a 93-apartment scheme in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.

This development, called Brickworks, will comprise a single building split into two blocks – of eight and 10 storeys – fronting onto Norfolk Street and Brick Street. It will be a “car-free” development.

Planning officers had recommended approval for the project on the site of the former Liver Grease Oil & Chemicals Company.  Collapsed developer Crossfield had originally proposed a 200-bed hotel for this location.

This is the second Crossfield site Torus has taken on in the Baltic. In January 2023 it appointed its in-house construction arm HMS to complete The Vaults in St James Street. This £9.8m scheme comprises 64 apartments as well as commercial space.

At the planning committee meeting on Tuesday councillors praised Torus for including wheelchair-accessible accommodation. It is estimated Secton 106 payments (money paid for wider local improvements) will be around £268,000.

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There will be 45 one-bedroom apartments, 45 two-bedroom apartments, and three three-bed apartments, including 21 wheelchair-accessible units. And there will also be commercial units on the ground floor.

All of the apartments will be offered for ‘Rent to Buy’. This is a Government-subsidised scheme where people pay an ‘affordable’ rent (no more than 80% of local market rate) with an option to buy the property within five years.

Studio RBA is the architect while Savills is the planner for the development. The project team also includes Shape Consulting Engineers, BB7 Consulting, Anstey Horne, ADC Acoustics, and Highways Advice.