Knowsley Council has ambitious housing plans to grow the Borough as well as ensuring that existing and potential residents have a wide choice of homes in terms of budget, size, style and location.
Over the last year, Knowsley has seen the fourth highest increase in house prices in the UK as well as the highest increase across the Liverpool City Region.
The average price of a home in Knowsley in September 2021 was £165,618, which is an increase of 22.2% compared to September 2020. In the UK, house prices have increased by 11.8% on average.
As well as privately owned homes, there is also demand for rented properties in the Borough with demand currently higher than supply.
In addition, around 400 new affordable homes have been constructed over the last 12 months, with more planned including Plus Dane’s delivering of 77 apartments due to start on site in Halewood this month (with completion expected in November 2023) and Livv Housing’s phase 2 development at the Watch Factory in Prescot underway with a further 103 apartments for over 55’s (due to be completed later this year).
Whilst the pandemic slowed down the construction of new homes, 234 new homes were completed by the end of November 2021. Developers across the Borough are working at pace on a number of sites which will deliver over 2,100 new homes as well as an additional 732 affordable homes.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “It’s a key priority for us to ensure that there is good choice of high-quality homes for both our existing residents as well as new residents. Our housing programme is delivering a broad range of homes to suit all budgets, styles, sizes and locations.
“Running alongside our housing programme, we are also progressing ambitious development plans for all of our town centres which is helping to attract more residents into the Borough. Despite a pandemic, we have delivered a new retail development in Kirkby, which is home to a Morrisons superstore, petrol filling station, drive-thru Taco Bell and KFC restaurants and a larger Home Bargains store is due to open shortly. Work on The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot has also been progressing at pace and this visitor attraction is due to open later this year.
“The delivery of housing and town centre regeneration plans are essential to help our economic recovery from the pandemic and I’m delighted that we are providing homes that residents need and want.”