The Florrie’s ambitious community housing development set to reshape the Dingle area
Nestled in the heart of Dingle Liverpool, The Florrie Community Land Trust (CLT) is on the brink of a transformative journey. Liverpool City Council is setting a remarkable precedent in a community-led initiative with three parcels of land given the go ahead to be transferred from local authority ownership to The Florrie CLT. This initiative marks a pivotal moment for community led housing in the city as plans unfold for 97 new homes, managed workspace for 11 SME’s, dedicated green open spaces and a public civic courtyard space centred around The Florence Institute (The Florrie).
The Florrie have been strategically working on their vision for the CLT housing development in partnership with The Sovini Group since 2019, who will lead the development and the management of the new homes and as plans take shape, the anticipation grows.
This landmark decision is a significant milestone in a community asset land transfer process established by Liverpool City Council to empower communities, promote affordability and inclusivity and demonstrates LCC’s commitment to housing solutions led by local communities.
Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Development and Growth, said: “I’m delighted for The Florrie that their proposal for affordable and social housing in the heart of the L8 community can now move to the final stage of our Community Led Housing process. Their business case was of a high quality and financially robust, and the relationship they have developed with The Sovini Housing Group underscores the level of professionalism they’ve applied to making this dream a reality. The final phase is to develop a planning application and then the transfer of the land and we look forward to having further positive dialogue with The Florrie over the coming months.”
The Florrie Community Led Housing scheme is part of a national grassroots movement that empowers communities to take control of their housing needs. The Florrie CLT model ensures that the transfer of land under this process remains in community ownership, protecting affordability for future generations. The Florrie CLT plans will focus on creating affordable social housing that prioritises members housing needs and reflects the CLT’s wider aspirations of providing a foundation for new economic opportunities. The transfer of the land will not only promote economic growth for the wider community, it will support the charities long term sustainability plans by helping to minimise the charities reliance on fluctuating grant funding and corporate bookings.
“This is a monumental moment for The Florrie and for community-led housing across the country”
said Roy Williams, CEO of The Sovini Group. “Our involvement in this journey has been incredibly rewarding, witnessing firsthand the dedication and passion throughout the community to shape their own future. The Florrie is directly addressing the pressing need for local affordable housing and economic opportunities. This pioneering initiative with Liverpool City Council is empowering a community to take ownership of local housing demand and is a flagship example of what can be achieved when local authorities listen to their communities. I believe this model will inspire similar projects nationwide.”
With pre-development funding secured from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, The Florrie CLT has been able to engage architects Brock Carmichael to further develop the CLT plans.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “In the midst of a housing crisis it is vital that we explore innovative ways to create the affordable social housing we so urgently need. This transfer of land to a well-loved community-led organisation to enable them to build nearly 100 homes is exactly the kind of creative approach we need to adopt. That’s why we are supporting the project’s development and I look forward to seeing it become a reality.”
This new chapter continues The Florrie’s legacy as a charity rooted in the belief that strong communities start with people-first places. The impact of this development extends far beyond housing. It will act as a catalyst for new investment, create employment opportunities and support enterprise growth – all of which will help to keep wealth circulating within the local community and drive long lasting, positive change. The transfer of the land will not only promote economic growth for the wider community, it will help to provide financial security for the charity
“Its an exciting time for everyone involved in the CLT and the transfer of the land is a major step forward” said Kirsty Woo, local resident and one of the Directors of The Florrie CLT “We are excited to start seeing our plans over the last six years move forward to the next phase”.
All images and plans are indicative and subject to change. They are provided to give an impression of what the development may look like and do not represent final designs.