Liverpool City Council has launched a consultation on a new housing strategy aimed at delivering 12,000 homes over the next six years. This plan seeks to provide 2,000 homes annually and increase affordable housing availability across the city.

The strategy, anticipated to trigger a £1bn housebuilding surge, includes a key goal of doubling the proportion of affordable homes from 10% to 20%. The council reported that only 11% of the 10,700 homes built in the past five years are classified as affordable.

To achieve these targets, the council intends to collaborate with Homes England, redevelop the Festival Gardens site, and release council-owned land for new housing projects. Additionally, the council is reviewing approximately 8,000 vacant privately-owned homes to bring them back into use, supporting the city’s housing objectives.

Liverpool Leader Cllr Liam Robinson emphasised the city’s commitment to addressing housing challenges. “The council recognises the challenges people face to get on the property ladder, which is why our new draft housing strategy has set out a target for 2,000 new homes a year, with a fifth being affordable,” he said.

He added, “The underlying problem of supply and demand is also at the heart of our mission – which is why we are working with a range of partners to unlock key brownfield sites and to systematically reduce the number of empty properties. Together this will help kickstart a £1bn boom in housebuilding across the city, which will have a huge impact on our economy and workforce.” The final housing strategy, which will inform Liverpool’s local plan, is expected to be approved by the cabinet in autumn 2024.