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Housing association buys Liverpool FC’s training ground
A housing association has bought Liverpool Football Club’s (LFC) famous Melwood training ground.
Torus, which owns around 37,000 homes across the North West, plans to build an as-yet unspecified number of homes at the West Derby site.
LFC said a tender process identified Torus as “the best socially responsible housing developer to take over the Melwood site”.
The club gained planning permission for proposals to deliver 160 new homes at the training ground in 2017, with Torus now developing new plans for the land in consultation with local residents and businesses.
LFC is moving to a new facility in Kirkby, with the first team training there to take place from the start of next season.
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Chris Bowen, managing director of Torus Developments, said: “With more than 1,600 homes in the area, we’re already a long-standing part of the West Derby community, so being selected to develop this site at the heart of the neighbourhood means a great deal to us.
“Consultation with local residents is very important to us and we look forward to meeting with the community in due course.
“We will also be working closely with LFC to ensure the legacy of this incredibly historical site is a theme throughout.
“Our plans are still at an early stage but will be driven by providing quality affordable homes that address local need, including specialist housing provision where older people and those with additional care needs can lead sociable, fulfilling and independent lives.”
Andy Hughes, executive vice president of operations and finance at LFC, said: “Today marks another significant milestone in this hugely important and ambitious project.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sale of the Melwood site, having played such a significant role in the club’s history. But the site is limited in terms of space and is unable to accommodate the club’s ambitions for a new first-class combined training facility.
“It’s over two years since we started this journey and we’d like to thank everyone who has been involved, particularly local residents in West Derby for their feedback and patience during this tender process.”
