Housing Solicitors

West Lancashire Borough Council has announced that an £8 million scheme to revive a housing estate in Skelmersdale has entered its final stages – and the first batch of new homes will soon be available to rent.

The council is building 42 new homes at the village of Firbeck to meet the needs of modern families. In total, the 42 new homes will comprise 14 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom flats – and 12 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom houses.

This will be only the second batch of new council homes built in the area by West Lancashire Borough Council in nearly 20 years – the last new homes were completed in 2011.

The principal contractor is community regeneration specialist, Keepmoat, which is building the houses and flats to the council’s specifications – with
Arcus providing architectural and employer’s agent services for the project.

Building works on the first eight properties have now been completed and these have been handed over to the local authority, so housing staff can organise rental tenancies.

The eight homes now ready are one-bedroom flats – but will have the appearance of semi-detached houses, with four flats at ground floor level and the other four being first floor properties.

The new energy-efficient homes are part of the £8m Firbeck Revival scheme, which forms part of the wider Skelmersdale Town Centre Regeneration Project.

Existing council-owned properties have already benefited from new kitchens and bathrooms – and external works have included new roofs, double-glazed uPVC windows and external wall insulation, with new canopies over front doors. Fencing has also been replaced on many homes to improve security.

The council’s Director of Housing and Inclusion, Bob Livermore, said:

“I am really pleased that the first batch of these new homes has been completed – and we will soon be able to offer them to people who need them.

“The whole Firbeck Revival scheme has been a great success and will benefit the people who live on the estate for many years to come.

“We plan to use this scheme to guide us in revival schemes for other estates to make even better places to live.”

Area director for Keepmoat in the North West, Frank Mondino, added:

“It’s fantastic to be supporting the council delivering on their vision for Firbeck – as well as offering the provision of much-needed new homes, the regeneration of the existing infrastructure and properties in the area ensures we are catering for the wider community.

“Resident feedback has been incredibly positive – and we’re sure the occupants of the new homes will benefit greatly from the revival.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, disrepair of rented accommodation, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our housing law solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing and council’s obligation to re-house.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.