A plan for up to 1,500 new homes to be built at a prime waterfront spot in Liverpool is set to go ahead.
The Festival Gardens site will be developed following a £9.9m grant from the Government’s 'housing accelerator' Homes England.
The cash from the Government’s Local Authority Accelerated Construction programme will pay for a clean-up to take place on the site to pave the way for residential development.
Homes England has opened new offices in the same building as Liverpool City Region Combined Authority at the city's iconic Pier Head to help the two organisations collaborate more effectively.
Sir Edward Lister, chairman of Homes England, said: 'We are determined to use all the resources available to us to make homes happen across England – so I’m thrilled our funding means work can move forward rapidly at this historic site, providing homes for hundreds of families.
'And with Homes England and combined authority experts now working side by side, we expect to further accelerate the construction of new houses across the region.'
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said: 'Festival Gardens is a much-loved waterfront location and people have very fond memories of spending time there.
'We are fully aware of the potential the Festival Gardens has and its transformation will be a game-changer for this city’s economy in terms of new homes, construction jobs and growth.'
