Cityheart and Halton Borough Council have partnered with Plus Dane Housing to deliver the first phase of new homes at Foundry Lane in Widnes. Watson Construction has also been appointed to carry out the works, which has already started on site.
Phase 1 includes 63 two, and three-bedroom affordable homes providing a mix of shared ownership and rental options. The wider masterplan for the scheme includes over 300 new homes delivered in phases across 20 acres of former industrial land in Halebank, Widnes.
The Foundry Lane masterplan is an ambitious project to convert land which was formerly the operational site for the Stobart and Tarmac businesses, to a new residential neighbourhood.
Cityheart was appointed as Halton Borough Council’s development partner in 2022 and the proposed scheme has since undergone a redesign and land remediation by specialist contractor P.P. O’Connor.
Commenting on the partnership, James Litherland, senior development manager for Cityheart said: “We’ve been working closely with Plus Dane on the Foundry Lane scheme in recent months and are very pleased to announce them as our partners to bring this development forward, creating much-needed, sustainable and affordable homes for local people. This is a major milestone for Cityheart as we move forward into delivery across three major redevelopment projects in the northwest including Halton, Stopford Park in Stockport and in Wigan town centre.”
Plus Dane manage a growing portfolio of over 13,500 homes across Merseyside and Cheshire. Commenting on this latest development, Deputy Chief Executive, Claire Dixon, said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with Cityheart to get this development moving and to help deliver 63 affordable homes for Widnes, that are in high demand. The Foundry Lane masterplan is ambitious and exciting, and we think the vision will completely transform this former industrial site into a desirable place to call home.”
Councillor Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Our £60m Brownfield Land Fund is helping to deliver more than 4,500 new homes, on previously developed, brownfield sites. It’s a bit part of how we are working hard to tackle the housing shortage and ensure that people right across our area have a great choice of high-quality homes.
“Building on brownfield sites is key to making that happen – there are around 700 of them with enough space to build 42,000 homes. That’s why I’m so pleased we could support this site in Halebank, whose development will eventually create 300 new homes for local people, creating community on previously used industrial land. It’s exactly what we need to be doing.”
Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: “This is the first step in us realising our ambition to create a new and vibrant neighbourhood, transforming this previously underutilised site as a place for future generations to live.
“We hope these new homes will act as a catalyst for further regeneration and continued investment into the area.”
Sustainable design has been incorporated to maximise the thermal efficiency of the properties which are also bolstered by renewables including, photo voltaic panels (solar panels) and air source heat pumps.
This project is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Brownfield Land Fund and Homes England Affordable Homes Programme.
Gareth Phipps-Williams, Assistant Director - Affordable Housing Programme Management, for Homes England, said: "As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting partners to achieve their ambitions.
“Phase One of the Foundry Lane development is a prime example of how the Agency works collaboratively with partners through the Affordable Homes Programme, creating much needed communities people can be proud to call home.”
The core project team includes MM (PM/QS); Corstorphine & Wright (architect); Curtins (engineer); Zerum (planner); DEP (landscape architect) and TACE (MEP).
Further announcements on the progress of Phase 2 will follow later in the year.
