We are redeveloping Liverpool Football Club's Melwood Training Facility, with planning in place for affordable new homes.
Melwood has been at the heart of West Derby for decades. A place where footballing legends were born and from where Liverpool has dominated the world.
Our vision will celebrate the heritage of Melwood but look firmly to the future, opening the door to a legacy that the entire community can benefit from.
We want to work closely with the local community to shape our vision and bring it to life.
Torus is a leading housebuilder and landlord with deep roots in Liverpool and West Derby. We specialise in delivering the right homes in the right places to support economic growth and regeneration.
With a focus on collaboration and place-making, we build homes that enhance local communities and leave positive, long-lasting legacies.
100% of the profits generated from our developments is invested back into our charitable arm, Torus Foundation, to provide services that improve wellbeing, skills and quality of life.
We are a responsible developer and as such, are working to ensure Melwood impacts your community positively for many years to come, which is why the following key principles will underpin the development:
Please note, anything presented at this moment is purely conceptual. Nothing has been decided and nothing will be until we hear from YOU
Although we have postponed all physical face-to-face community consultation sessions due to COVID-19 restrictions around public gatherings, our website has been open since March 2020, encouraging people to submit thoughts on the future of the Melwood site.
So far, you have highlighted four primary themes relating to the planned development of the site.
On the basis of the comments we have received from you, we wanted to share our initial response to each point raised:
Rest assured, all your comments will influence planning and design, so that whatever the future of Melwood, you will have guided its development.
Finally, there is still time for you to have your say and our online portal is open 24/7 for you to contribute your ideas. We’d love to hear from you, so don’t miss your opportunity to contribute the Melwood’s next chapter!
This area of West Derby has not always been a residential area and since the turn of the century has grown exponentially in line with the increased demands of an ever-growing population. We understand that this growth has brought with it challenges – namely an increase in number of cars per household, increased traffic levels and ultimately congestion.
As a future-focused Group, we are working with experts to conduct a thorough, up-to-date survey of traffic in the area. When designing proposals for the site, we will aim to reduce pressure on existing routes as much as possible and will be including ample parking spaces into the development’s design, as well as incorporating multiple access points and routes through the site to improve the flow of traffic, especially at peak times.
As a Group, we are committed to reducing carbon emissions across our heartlands so will be actively designing the site with public transport and low-carbon transport options in mind.
We are also exploring housing options which are tailored to the needs of individuals who typically don’t own vehicles, such as housing for older and more vulnerable individuals.
We understand that flood risk is a concern across West Derby. We have already employed a technical team to review and assess the site so that any development built doesn’t add to this problem further. We are currently exploring self-contained and sustainable draining options, which we would look to incorporate into the final design for the site.
We will also be conducting our own, up-to-date survey of the area to mitigate this risk from the outset of the development.
Consultation is at the heart of any project we undertake and since buying the site in August 2019, we have been talking to residents of West Derby, local Councillors, organisations and businesses to understand the challenges felt by the people who live and work in the area.
As such, we are working to design the site to alleviate pressures on services such as GP Practices, local schools and public transport links and to provide opportunities to enable improvements to public services where we can. We don’t know what this will look like yet but are exploring multiple options such as incorporating self-sustaining Extra Care units on site or creating homes for first time buyers, young professionals or downsizers without children or long-term health conditions. By developing a range of housing options, we will work to reduce pressure on local services.
Currently, the public does not have access to Melwood facilities and the site, as it stands, is inaccessible to the residents of West Derby. We are working hard to understand how these facilities could best be used by the community and are having exploratory discussions with several groups and organisations.
Whatever the extent of existing facilities that are retained, we are keen that the development will be of significant benefit to the local community and could increase access to green space, health and wellbeing opportunities and create a sustainable new environment on the site.
We understand the opportunity the facilities available on-site present so are also open to hearing from organisations who wish to submit a proposal for how to use them as part of this new development.
Melwood is an iconic site and you expressed a preference to keep the existing building, if possible, to provide a range of much-needed facilities and services to the local community. We recognise that plans for a housing-led development should also benefit the local area and are exploring the potential the existing building and facilities have.
With respondents in support of using the existing facilities to support health and wellbeing initiatives, enterprise and training programmes we are exploring multiple ways to retain the building in some form.
Throughout consultation, it became apparent that there was a real need for certain accommodation types that are under provided for in the area. Bespoke housing options for older people could be beneficial to the redevelopment of Melwood, due to demographic and the lack of provision in and around the area.
As a Group, Torus is committed to creating housing solutions for older and vulnerable people to respond to the needs of our ageing population, locally and on a wider basis. There is a distinct shortage of Independent, Supported and Extra Care Schemes across North Liverpool and the North West.
You also told us that homes for younger people, first time buyers and downsizers are needed in Melwood as residents would like access to private greenspace, a smaller home that is easier to maintain or the chance to get on the property ladder. This supports our own market research.
Melwood could be an opportunity to help people across West Derby and beyond get onto the property ladder and build a community which works for everyone. As a Group, we build great homes everyone can enjoy, no matter their stage of life, and know this development could be an example of modern, inclusive living centred on community.
We want Melwood to become a multi-generational community which provides people with the opportunity to own the home they want, live as independently as possible, for as long as possible and to be part of a thriving local community.
Through Community Consultation, it became apparent that respondents want the development of the site to be environmentally friendly, to incorporate greenspace and to reduce reliance on cars. We want to create a development focused on people that has a positive impact on health and well-being and creates a sense of community.
Alongside this, we are investigating different sustainable, on-site drainage solutions which will reduce pressure on local infrastructure.
With green options for the design being discussed with the site’s architects, sustainability and the environment will be at the heart of the redevelopment to ensure it is a place that supports the local environment and becomes a future-focused development.
Since July, we have been encouraging the residents and communities of West Derby to take part in our Community Consultation and share their thoughts on the principles that will underpin the development of Melwood.
We posted leaflets to homes on the following streets and left them in local public spaces such as shops, pubs and businesses, inviting residents to book a one-to-one consultation session:
Consultation Delivery Addresses
Community Consultation sessions were hosted by We Make Places, an independent, local consultation specialist who facilitated conversations with the people of West Derby and generated the below report, compiling all responses. From those conversations, you told us the below was important to you:
As part of the Community Consultation process, We Make Places compiled a report detailing all feedback provided. You can view and download a copy of this report below:
Melwood Resident Initial Consultation Report
As part of the consultation process, we were asked multiple questions by members of the community. Please click the button below to see our response to all questions. If you require any further clarification on any points raised, please contact consultations@torus.co.uk
Torus acquires Melwood from Liverpool Football Club
Community Interest Company We Make Places engaged to support public consultation activities
Community consultation sessions are scheduled for 24th and 25th March in West Derby
Dedicated consultation website is launched to collect the community’s views
Community consultation sessions postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
Community feedback collated digitally
Initial responses to Phase 1 of consultation shared
Digital Community Consultation begins and Torus launches conceptual designs for Melwood site
Digital Community Consultation extended and leaflets redistributed
Handover event with LFC
First stage of Community Consultation closed and results shared
Torus to take over Melwood site
We understand what Melwood means to West Derby and we want to make sure that its heritage is never forgotten. We’re working closely with We Make Places, a Liverpool based Community Interest Company, to capture memories of Melwood as part of a living heritage project.
If you have memories of Melwood you’d like to share we’d love to hear them.
Register your email address to receive updates on Melwood.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and their Memories of Melwood. We’ve had 37 responses so far and will be incorporating your views into our plans.
A lot of feedback we have received so far has focused on preserving the site’s legacy and your Memories of Melwood. Please be assured all your views and suggestions will be incorporated into our plans moving forward.
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