Anfield and Everton residents are being invited to meet with architects to discuss plans for the boarded up terraced houses next to Homebaked Bakery.
The terrace is owned by Liverpool City Council but has been vacant since the Housing Market Renewal Initiative stalled in 2008. Now Homebaked Community Land Trust (Homebaked CLT), an organisation run by local people and the landlord of the Homebaked bakery, is leading a plan to develop new homes and revive the once thriving street.
It has been given the go ahead to develop its plans by Liverpool City Council to launch a feasibility study for eight affordable homes for rent and up to two new business units. Homebaked will look to extend its production area and cafe too.
Funded by independent trust Power to Change and the Homes England’s Community Housing Fund, Homebaked will open up one of the houses – 189 Oakfield Road – so people can come and have their say on the plans. Drop-in sessions will run on Thursdays between 3 and 6pm and on Fridays, between 10am and 1pm until the 22nd March.
Residents can give their thoughts on the mix of flats, houses and public meeting spaces available and the development of work and business units. Their feedback will be used by award-winning architects Urbed to create a thriving community owned housing and business scheme with long-term affordable rents.
The Oakfield Road area of Anfield and Everton has been redefined in recent years thanks to the growing community business movement. Organisations including Homebaked Bakery, Kitty’s Launderette and HomeGrown Collective are built and driven by residents wanting to change the area for the better and help bring the high street back to life.
Britt Jurgensen, Homebaked CLTs Community Engagement Co-ordinator and a local resident herself said, “We always start with the simple question – ‘What do we need to live well?’ What kind of home would you love to live in? How can we create spaces that benefit everyone – visitors and residents? What are the shops we need locally and how can we make them viable?’ Join us for a cup of tea and a chat at 189 Oakfield and let us know your thoughts and inputs on the plans going forward.”
Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan, Liverpool City Council’s Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homebaked has been a runaway success story and has become a symbol of the renaissance taking place across Anfield. We’re delighted to be giving them the support on this new housing venture and I’m sure the community will embrace the idea and come up with some fantastic proposals to help shape this scheme.”
Rose Seagrief, Programmes Manager in charge of housing at Power to Change said: “This is a wonderful step forward for the people of Anfield and a massive achievement for Homebaked CLT. Access to good affordable homes and local services lie at the very heart of our communities and this project will give the power back to local community to ensure they get the very best high street for their purposes, now and in the future.”
Homebaked CLT, a not-for-profit membership organisation, was established in 2012 by local residents who wanted to save the iconic Mitchell’s neighbourhood bakery from demolition and develop housing, locally rooted businesses and other assets in the Anfield and Everton wards of Liverpool.
Building on the bakery’s success, the CLT turned its attention to restoring the apartment above the business. This was recently completed, and the first tenants moved in in February 2018.
Homebaked Bakery which opened in 2013, is a successful community owned cooperative bakery. It employs 17 people, 70% of whom live within walking distance of the bakery. It is open 7 days a week, bakes fresh bread daily, & supplies pies to LFC & several restaurants in the city. As part of this development, it is looking to expand with an additional training and pie production space.
The scheme will go into planning in March 2019, and Homebaked CLT hope that work will start on the site in Autumn 2019.
Notes for Editors
About Homebaked CLT
Homebaked CLT is an award winning community-owned land trust, based in the former Mitchell’s Bakery, opposite Liverpool Football Club. Homebaked is working to rebuild parts of the high street on Oakfield Road including providing shops, genuinely affordable and sustainable housing, and support for local and community businesses.
Community land trusts are local organisations set up and run by people to develop and manage homes as well as other assets important to that community, like community enterprises, food growing or workspaces. The CLT’s main task is to make sure these homes are genuinely affordable, based on what people actually earn in their area, not just now but for every future occupier. (Definition from the National CLT Network website https://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/)
Homebaked Community Land Trust works in partnership with sister organization Homebaked Co-operative Bakery. HomeGrown Collective, a further community business for micro green farming and brewing is currently in development. Members of Homebaked CLT and Bakery also support another young and upcoming community business, Kitty’s Launderette, further down the high street.
Anfield has undergone a £260m regeneration programme since 2012 which has seen the creation of 600 new and 600 refurbished homes as well as a £4.5m environmental enhancement programme and improvements to Stanley Park to complement the new main stand at Anfield stadium.
Through the regeneration partnership between the city council, Your Housing Group, Keepmoat Homes and LFC, there are plans and agreements in place over the next two years to deliver:
- a further 150 new and refurbished homes
- new retail development to Walton Breck Road, including community-led initiatives
- a high-end brand hotel development with local employment and training component
- further environmental street improvements to Walton Breck Road and Anfield Village
About Power to Change
Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England. Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector is worth £1.05 billion, and comprises 7,800 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2018)
From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.
www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz
For more information please contact: Alex Valk 07384 812777 alexv@www.powertochange.org.uk
About The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.