http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-councils-260m-anfield-project-6196467 --------------------------------------- Plans to redevelop Anfield are poised to take a step forward as councillors are set to agree to the compulsory purchase of properties. The £260m Anfield Project, set to create 700 jobs and lead to the refurbishment of 500 homes, relies on nearly 700 houses being demolished. While many have been bought up over the years to allow work to go ahead around 30 remain outside the developers’ control. On Friday next week, members of Liverpool council’s cabinet will be asked to approve, in principle, the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to smooth the scheme’s path. The council claims CPOs would be used only as a last resort, with negotiations ongoing with property owners over possible sales. Houses in Lothair Road and Rockfield Road, yards from Liverpool FC’s stadium, are believed to be among those which could be affected. Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “We have had overwhelming support from local residents and businesses for our plans and there is unarguable public interest in driving these proposals forward. “The people of Anfield have been let down too often in the past. We will not let them down again. “We remain confident that we will be able to acquire properties without having to resort to CPOs but want to get agreement for them should they be required. The legal justification for CPOs, should they be needed, is unequivocal.” A total of 699 properties were identified as being in “clearance zones” at the project’s outset. Of these, 279 have been demolished or are in the demolition process at the moment. A further 346 have been purchased, or an agreement for their sale has been agreed, with other property-holders continuing to speak to the development consortium, headed by the council. The local authority says CPOs for 30 properties would be “the very worst case scenario.” Robert Porter, of housing association partners Your Housing, said: “We have to acquire land in a manner which is fair to property owners and which enables the schemes to progress. “We have consulted at length with residents and businesses and are confident we have the support of the community to deliver these improvements.
Hope it doesn't come to that as it leaves a bad taste. However, by gaining approval for CPOs, it puts the club in a very strong position and anyone unwilling to negotiate at that time would be rather silly IMO.
On the face of it, it benefits everyone in the area, including our club. Jobs, facelift, infrastructure, bigger Anfield. All good
Telegraph are reporting six houses owned by three landlords are blocking the redevelopment. Four are derelict, the other two aren't occupied by the owner and at least one of the landlords live abroad.
Of of them a Everton fan? As I said above, anyone refusing to sell up after a CPO has been granted would be silly as they would more than likely stand to lose out.
Just play around them. It could be like that farm in the middle of the M62 on Saddleworth Moor. When I was a lad (!) we used to play on the carpark of Dovecot Labour Club. Some dick insisted on parking his car smack in the middle of the car park even though the whole side round the corner was empty. We just made it part of the game and were playing one-twos off it. Looked like it had been in a stock car race by time we finished with it.
By this time the owners of the property will have been approached with a view to sell. Therefore they cannot claim that they have not been informed. They (or their representatives) will by now have been informed of the Council's intention to instigate CPOs. So it's up to them, they either get the best price they can from the club or the 'market value' for that type of home in that area and in that condition (ie a hell of a lot less).
I believe that the condition of the property also has an effect upon the valuation. However, you'd need a solicitor who specialises in local government land legislation to advise further.
Not necessarily. If the remaining residents/owners argue that the price offered is lower than a similar type property elsewhere in the city then the whole process gets a lot more complicated (as happened with the CPO's on Edge Lane that dragged on for years). It only takes one resident to argue that average prices are lower in the area as a direct result of council neglect/a deliberate running down of the area by LFC etc and the plans get dragged out longer and longer. The other thing to bear in mind is CPO's can be challenged. For some residents it won't just be about money. Quite often (as has happened in the past) these are family homes that have seen generations brought up in them. Elderly residents especially feel they have a right to remain in homes they have lived in all their lives. Despite the council/club rhetoric this could all still be delayed for years and it will only take one or two to do it.
Fair enough, cheers for that In reality though, if there are as little as say ten houses left to negotiate over / tenant is being difficult, then why not juts offer them an extra £10k to get it over with? In the grand scheme of things, £100k extra would be that much when talking about a £200m project
Not really sure why this whole thing is spanning years rather than months. How hard can it be to negotiate a value for the property and pay it, or are they doing an arsenal and upping the offer £1 at a time? Even now, it's an agreement in principle for CPO's to be used as a last resort...I mean, what does that even mean? We'll still be waiting for the last few properties in another year's time.
