Veterans from across the Liverpool City Region will soon benefit from a multi-million pound project aimed at providing financial and emotional support to former members of the armed forces.
One Vision Housing which is part of parent company, The Sovini Group, is pleased to announce the greenlight for its pioneering scheme in Everton Valley.
The development, supported by Liverpool City Council, is set to offer affordable homes to rent and buy as well as an innovative onsite Veterans Centre for Excellence.
The award-winning organisation, which has a portfolio of 14,000 homes, is set to enable former servicemen and women the opportunity to own their own home through Government backed schemes such as Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.
The redevelopment will sit on the former Army Barracks which was once home to the 9th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment. The barracks, now owned by Liverpool City Council, was first built in 1830 is set to become a flag-ship facility through a combined project with Veterans HQ.
With homeless charities estimating there are 7,000 ex-servicemen and women sleeping rough and in desperate need of affordable housing, there is a real call for the planned redevelopment and facilities.
The site will undergo a construction make-over with a mix of houses and apartments on offer.
As well as supporting local heroes, the project which will be under construction from 2018, is also backing the city’s £130m Housing Delivery Plan.
As part of the planned redevelopment the renowned Red Triangle Karate Club, who are currently based at the site, will have use of the new and improved facilities on completion of the project.
Louise Davies, Director for Development at One Vision Housing, said, “The project is far more than a housing redevelopment – it is set to positively impact the lives of former servicemen and women. The redevelopment is set to preserve the unique nature of the former Georgian terraces yet bring the former barracks into the modern day by adding pioneering facilities. The Centre of Excellence will provide veterans with access to counselling, emergency housing, certified training courses to enhance employment opportunities and most importantly, affordable housing. The financial and housing issues veterans face are well documented, so it is important as a social housing provider we provide affordable and accessible homes.
“We will deliver the project in partnership with Veterans HQ who already support former servicemen and women with housing, money, employment and training, plus much more.”
Bob Blanchard, Chairman and Founder of Veterans HQ, added, “A Centre of Excellence for our veterans, Reservists and their Families was written into our development plan from our inception some seven years previous. This unique and exciting opportunity will see our Armed Forces community benefiting from quality affordable housing and support all provided on one site. Our partnership with One Vision Housing has been of the highest standard and having their support brings a quality assurance to this development and ensures that our veterans, reservists and their families can receive the best possible support as early as possible.”
Councillor Frank Hont, Cabinet Member for Housing, said, “Liverpool has a long and proud relationship with the armed forces, and the barracks played a significant role. This is an imaginative and ambitious scheme which pays homage to the past by providing a place for our armed forces veterans to live and gain access to other essential support. It will be a real showcase for support for veterans and complements the city’s work on the Armed Forces Covenant.
“The scheme is part of our commitment to bring empty homes back into use, which has already seen the number of long term vacant properties in the city reduced by a quarter over the last three years.”
Bob Poynton, Red Triangle Karate Club, added, “The world-renowned Red Triangle Karate Club, which has been based at the site since 1973 and is an acknowledged National Karate Centre of Excellence, will be provided with greatly improved facilities, allowing it to make its expertise more accessible to the local community, which has benefitted from its presence for over 50 years as it was first established at the YMCA on Everton Road in 1964.”
To find out more information on One Vision Housing visit www.ovh.org.uk
