Bloor buys Jaguar sports and social club in Widnes
The housebuilder plans to invest in the Cronton Lane complex and incorporate it into plans for a 400-home scheme being worked up on neighbouring land.
Bloor Homes has acquired the six-acre former Jaguar Land Rover Sports and Social Club site in Widnes, which features a bar and function room, football pitch and bowling green, after the car manufacturer closed the site in 2024.
Since then, its future has been uncertain but Bloor said the site will be a “central community feature” within its emerging 40-acre housing plans.
Bloor owns land to the north of the JLR site – itself north of the town centre and south of Junction 7 of the M62 – and is in the early stages of mapping out plans for a new neighbourhood.
A spokesperson for Bloor Homes sought to allay local concerns.
“We understand there may be some local speculation following the recent acquisition of the former JLR site on Cronton Lane,” they said.
“While no planning application has been submitted at this stage, we want to reassure the community that any future plans will be carefully developed through open dialogue with local residents.”
The spokesperson added: “Our wider proposals for the surrounding area will include new homes, but our broader ambition is to breathe new life into the disused JLR site and re-establish it as a valued community asset that delivers lasting benefits for local people.
“We are committed to genuine engagement with local stakeholders and look forward to working together to explore how this site can once again play a positive role in the community.”
JLR closed the sports and social club due to “changing lifestyle and leisure pursuits”, according to a statement to the Liverpool Echo.
Hopefully the bowling green will be able to be played on again as a community sport which was loved by lots of people
By Anonymous
Yet more poxy houses to be built in this already overstretched town. Best social club in the country, thanks for nothing JLR !!!
By Mr Angry
Good on them, Someone with a bit of business nouse and the place will be a gold mine, am sure they will have more of an idea then the other crowd of old fogies who didnt have a clue how to run a club and ruined it for the football teams who played there. Best of luck.
By Anonymous