A NEW VISION FOR KENSINGTON?

Have all our projects in one community building
Land at 31-33 Prescot Road was bought as part of the HMRI initiative and is owned by Liverpool City Council.
The land has been left vacant for at least 18 years.
We have applied to nominate the land for the Community Rights to Assets of Community Value register, so it can’t be disposed off without considering the community first. I believe we have out a good case for inclusion in the register.
The land does not feature in the LCC Community Asset Transfer offered, but the CAT team have asked to consider it for it to be offered for CAT.
LCC CAT properties (at the moment) are only being offered on 10 year leases which is not long enough to qualify for consideration for funding from grant making bodies (e.g. the Key Fund, National Lottery)

The land would need to be transferred to KensingtonVision CIC as an asset transfer for a at least as 25 years lease (25 years is the minimum funders will accept for loans or grants), offered for sale or “gifted” to us.
The CAT transfer would offer to the local community, social benefits, and is in line with the Council’s own CAT Strategy Document (June 2022) and the City Plan.

The project would be able to the new home all our current projects.
It would create spaces for new creative businesses and social enterprises.
It will capitalise on the need for visitor accommodation in the city, creating a revenue stream for the other projects.
The building would be constructed of 18 stacked shipping containers as the main structure fitted out to a high standard.
The aim would be to make the building as Carbon Neutral, with banks of solar panels on the roof, use of heat pumps, grey water collection, etc.
This method of construction will be a low cost, quick and flexible.
The project will secure current jobs and create new jobs/apprenticeships for the Cafe, Bike Shop, Accommodation and Radio Station.
The accommodation is planned to produce a financial surplus used to subsidise the other projects, but the long term plan is to put surpluses into more community projects and lead project revitalising the High Street in Kensington.
The project falls with the range of the Key Fund, LCR Kindred, National Lottery, Charity Bank, Ecology Building society applications for funding

Safeguarding current Jobs
Creating new jobs
Creating new Training Opportunities
Creating a new Social Enterprise (Accommodation element floor 3 and two containers on floor 1)
Improving Kensington’s Community Image and Infrastructure
Contributing and helping to implement the “City Plan” for Communities (see LCC CAT Strategy policy document June 2022 and City Plan document)