This innovative masterplan creates a regeneration framework for one of the most deprived wards in the country. The programme proposes to tackle local health issues with a green trail, the 'Linacre Loop', which links new housing development, employment and green spaces. The regeneration projects include creating links to the wider country park and Sefton coast, creating a ‘Bootle Baltic’ and employment area, improving housing stock with new build and refurbishment and creating employment links with Peel Ports.
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Opportunity
Linacre ward forms the hinterland of Bootle Docks. It is well connected by three Mersey Rail Stations and arterial roads and has a successful District Centre at New Strand. It has a mix of housing, employment and open space.
Challenge
However, it is one of the most deprived areas of the country in terms of employment, education, crime and health. The health statistics, are particularly poor. Life expectancy for men is 10 years less than the England average and it has the highest rate of cancer in England.
The Masterplan
An integrated series of measures have been put forward to tackle this challenge including: -
- Improvement of neighbourhoods with low sustainability
- The ‘Linacre loop’ is a sustainable movement strategy linking the stations, housing neighbourhoods, open spaces and employment areas to promote cycling, walking and health and wellbeing
- The ‘Bootle Baltic’ is a modeled on the successful Baltic Triangle
- Bringing underused industrial buildings into use for creative industries
- Poets Park – reworking an existing poor-quality back land park into an open neighbourhood focus and leisure opportunity.
New Build and Refurbishment
Housing opportunities to diversify the housing offer and create choice and diversity
Anti Crime Measures
Include opening up blocked streets to ease ‘policeability’
Strategy
The masterplan sets out a 15 year regeneration strategy to be led by the Local Authority supported by the Housing Associations and key stakeholders.