Pedestrian Link Improvements
Improvements have been carried out to the bus stop at Woodlands Walk. New bus shelters and bins have been installed along with new lighting and the tidying of trees and vegetation in the area. This work complements the improvements that have already been made to the footpaths leading to the bus stop.
Work is currently underway on the construction of a new footpath link from Hedge Hey to the local centre. This is a much-needed footpath, as pedestrians currently have to walk on the road along Richards Close. There will be new lighting installed as part of the scheme.
Work is planned to complete the route from Halton Village to Astmoor Industrial Estate. The section of footpath to the north of Castlefields Avenue North to Astmoor will see the surface being upgraded, new lighting installed and the tidying of vegetation in the area. It is anticipated that work will be completed by March/April 2008.
Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT)
In July 2003 LHT completed a major development of 99 new units. They include a range of general needs houses and flats, a bungalow and a 21 unit scheme of selfcontained flats for over 55's. These properties were built on existing carparks along Castlefields Avenue South and Richards Close.
Ferryview Walk, along with Chester
and Rothesay Close were demolished in November 2003. The demolition,
mainly of Ferryview Walk has revealed spectacular views across the
Mersey estuary and 
beyond. In its place LHT has built 61 2-storey
houses and flats with gardens and private carparking.
March 2005 saw demolition begin of Rolands Walk, Caernarvon Close, and Princes Close. This work has now been completed.
Ten 2 bedroom bungalows have been built on Princes Close. The properties were developed for shared ownership for the elderly (age 55 and over). Interest was very high, so when handover took place in September 2006 all of the units were already sold!
CDS Housing
In summer 2003 residents moved into the first phase of the CDS developments on Castlefields. This included a 21-unit development for the elderly, Conwy Court and 9 houses.
CDS Housing
managed the development of Conwy Court, which includes spacious ground
floor flats designed for wheelchair users. The three-storey building
sits in its own attractive grounds with courtyard parking. The development
benefits from spectacular views of the Mersey Estuary from the upper
floors. In addition families from the demolished Nigel Walk deck-access
flats have been re-housed by CDS in thirty houses that complete the
scheme.
Waterbridge Mews which is was comnpleted in September 2005,
including a shared ownership scheme and properties for rent. These
will set a new standard for housing on Castlefields in terms of quality,
design and construction. The three storey houses will have roof terraces
overlooking the canal and all houses will have
private gardens as
well as private car parking spaces and landscaped areas at the front.
All the developments will be energy efficient and aim to achieve an
EcoHomes rating of Good.
The sites of Fitzwilliam, DeLacy and the Butts are due to be completed in July/August 2007. Progress so far has been good and CDS anticipate the first handovers around mid April 2007. The Fitzwilliam and DeLacy site has witnessed the demolition of 2 substantial blocks, which have been replaced with 54 new-build units, 33 of which are for sale on a shared ownership basis. The Butts development will provide 30 new build units for rent. Sale prices start at £95,000 for a 2 bedroom flat. For more information please call Homeshub on 0845 6034559 or log onto www.homeshub.co.uk - reservations are now being taken.
A planning application for the redevelopment of Caesars Close has now been submitted. It is anticipated that planning approval will be obtained in March 2007. Existing tenants are beginning to vacate their flats and many will be moving into the new Fitzwilliam and Butts developments. Caesars again will be redeveloped as a mixed tenure scheme with 22 properties for rent and 28 for shared ownership. For more information please call Louise Davies on 0151 708 4606.
Youth Activity Park
WORK has finished on the construction of a Pavilion, which is the first phase of the state-of-the-art Youth Activity Park. Designed by HOT architects the completed pavilion will provide a base for Halton Borough Council staff and will include public toilets, a meeting/activity room and can be used to educate youngsters about the environment as well as providing a base for events.
The construction of the Skate Park commenced in September 2005. Designed by consultants Richards, Morehead & Laing (RML), with Neil Danns, former British and European vertical half pipe skateboard champion providing design advice, the Park promises to be both exiting and unique.
“We asked the kids from all over the area what they wanted and RML’s design is turning their dreams into reality. They can’t wait for it to open. It’s a
great design, with something for every discipline, level and age. It also has lots of street furniture features, which should tempt kids out of the residential areas into a much safer and more socially acceptable environment.” said Neil.
In August 2005 work began to reclaim the former Norton Priory School site. For safety 
reasons this will involve the temporary closure of a number of routes through the park with the provision of alternative routes between Windmill Hill and Castlefields. During the works existing paths will be widened and upgraded and new lighting installed along the main links.
Following the reclamation, work will start on the installation of equipment which will include a floodlit multi-use games area, a five-a-side grass pitch, a climbing boulder and play areas for children under five and for those under 12. It is anticipated that all of the work will be completed by Spring 2005.
A New Road to the Centre
Work on the new road started in August 2005, this project will see a section of the Astmoor busway link between Castlefields Avenue East and the main busway replaced with a new stretch of highway, which will provide direct access to the proposed new local centre and existing community facilities. The cycleway and footpaths provided alongside the new link road will connect into the wider cycleway and footpath network.
Walking and Cycling
To improve access to facilities on and around Castlefields a programme of pedestrian and cycling link improvements have been planned. Work has already started on improving the footpaths and cycle ways through Castlefields. The work will include the resurfacing of existing paths, the cutting back and tidying of existing vegetation and new signage and lighting.
Improvements, which will commence this year, include:
The Astmoor Lane Link starting in March 2006, the existing lane will have new street lighting/ surfacing and the vegetation tidied up, providing residents with an improved route to Astmoor Industrial Estate and Halton Village.
With works already well underway, the Halton Brow Link is scheduled for completion by Spring 2006. Running adjacent to the busway, the link will provide a clear route from the Barge Pub, along the new road and through the local centre to Halton Brow.
Work has also started on the Woodlands Walk Link providing a safe and attractive route linking Woodlands Walk to the Local Centre.
The Windmill Hill Link will provide an improved cycleway/footpath link between Castlefields and Windmill Hill.
A pilot scheme to address the quality of public realm is about to be undertaken on Caesars, Centurions and Romans Close. Footpaths will be patched and resurfaced and the main routes highlighted with a new red surface. New lighting will also be installed along all of the footpaths, and new road signs will be erected to clearly identify house numbers, road names and the locations of housing blocks.
Brightening the Streets
Work is now nearing completion on the relighting of Castlefields Avenues North, South and East.
Lighting columns have been replaced with state of the art low-pollution, recyclable and energy-efficient lighting. This will increase visibility, making roads safer and helping to reduce criminal opportunities.
Good street lighting is at the heart of residents' concerns about safety and improving the environment and we hope this innovative scheme will contribute significantly to the quality of life for people living in and visiting Castlefields.
Subways: Change for the Better
To address concerns raised by residents, this year will see the closure of two problem subways which are to be replaced with pedestrian crossings.
Provision will be made at the Astmoor Lane Subway for an uncontrolled crossing over the busway with new road signs and lighting improvements.
The Norton School Subway will be closed in line within the timetable for the Youth Activity 
Park. The former Norton Priory School Bus Stop will be improved and a new pedestrian crossing linking in with a new bus stop at the opposite side will be provided.
The Greenbridge Close Subway will be closed as part of the new road scheme and a new crossing will be provided.
The proposed upgrade of Kingshead Close Subway will include the provision of two pedestrian islands, on Castlefields Avenue East, with new footpaths and lighting. Local residents will be consulted on the detailed design.
Additionally a number of subways will be revitalised by general cleaning, new lighting and repainting. The following subways will be upgraded by April 2006:
· Plantation Close
· Coppice Close
· Caesars Close
· Woodlands Walk
