Work starts on 74 affordable Liverpool flats
Developer Legacie and housing association South Liverpool Homes have partnered together to deliver the £14m Garston scheme, which has had planning permission since 2020.
The project comprises 74 apartments spread out over three apartment blocks on the site of the old Garston Public Baths. Of those 74 residences, 27 would be available for social rent, 12 for affordable rent for those over the age of 55, and 35 would be rent-to-buy.
To be known as “The Old Baths”, the development is set to achieve an EPC rating of A and will include a variety of sustainability initiatives including solar roof panels, heat pumps, and increased insulation.
The apartments are set to complete in the last quarter of 2025. Homes England has contributed to the funding for the project.
Homes England’s Karen Barlow, Legacie’s Gavin Currie, SLH’s Anna Bishop and Lucy Williams, and Homes England’s Nicola Spedding on the site of the future Old Baths. Credit: Jason Roberts
Planning permission for The Old Baths was secured in 2020. At that time the project was being led by Knightsbridge Property Group with designs by Keith Davidson Partnership. You can see that application by searching reference number 19F/2522 on the Liverpool City Council planning portal.
The Old Baths marks Legacie’s first foray into affordable housing. The developer is better known for its market housing portfolio, which includes the 500-apartment Parliament Square and future 656-flat The Gateway off Freemasons Row.
Gavin Currie, managing director at Legacie, explained the company’s reasoning: “We have entered the social housing space because, as developers, we see it as our responsibility to be a part of the solution to help Liverpool City Region tackle its ongoing housing crisis, and in doing so we can strengthen the Legacie brand and diversify our portfolio.”
The Old Baths is part of South Liverpool Homes’ push to build 280 low-carbon homes in Speke and Garston before 2027 – an initiative the housing association joined JV North to help bring to fruition.