Skelmersdale homes set for £5.5m cash boost

Sep 20 2012 by Tom Duffy, Skelmersdale Advertiser

COUNCILLORS have given the green light to a £5.5m scheme to provide residents with the homes they wish to live in.

West Lancashire Borough Council’s cabinet members have approved the blueprint to improve housing on the Findon and Firbeck estates.

Dba Management Consultants trained some local residents to carry out a door-to-door survey in May to find out what improvements residents wanted.

The views of ordinary people have been taken into account with the planned transformation of the estate.

Councillor Adrian Owens, portfolio holder for Housing Finance, said: “The proposed first phase of the revival scheme would be to improve energy efficiency in houses, which is the top priority for residents

“Planned improvements for these homes include external wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows, and the option of taking advantage of an efficient and affordable communal heating system.

“Redevelopment of Findon Field will be part of the Revival project, and has received broad support from the public. “The Council’s plan is that the new development will compliment the Revival of Firbeck and create a place where people enjoy living."

Councillor Val Hopley, portfolio holder for Landlord Services, said: “We have listened to what the residents have told us and revised the proposals to make sure the scheme reflects their wishes.

“We will aim now to help make Findon and Firbeck a place for local people to be proud of.”

Hazel Scully, from the Firbeck and Findon Campaign Group, said: “This scheme will provide residents with better looking, warmer and more secure homes. The next stage will be to improve kitchen and bathrooms.”

Mrs Scully’s campaign group was set up to save 180 homes on Firbeck and Findon were set to bulldozed as part of the Skelmersdale Vision plan to breathe new life into the town.

The planned demolition was blocked last year because of the current economic climate.

The report from assistant director housing and regeneration Bob Livermore, stated: “The advice to council is that the original proposals for the area are not deliverable in the near or foreseeable future because of the change in the economy. Members could decide to retain the original decision to demolish Firbeck and Findon, but because of the uncertainty of when any redevelopment could be delivered and timescales involved.”