BXB, Promenade sell first chunk of 104-acre Cowley Hill 

Torus has acquired a 12-acre plot at the former St Helens glassworks, which has planning permission for 200 homes. 

Chris Bowen, managing director at Torus Developments said Torus has “big ambitions” for the site. 

“As it stands, Cowley Hill is the biggest site we have ever entered into an agreement on in St Helens and I’m thrilled to have taken this first step in redeveloping Cowley Hill.  

“This is the first partnership of many that will completely transform the area and Torus is excited to be at the forefront of a new era for Cowley Hill. We intend to develop this site alongside other new homes which we will build close to the site where we are currently demolishing poor condition, obsolete stock.” 

BXB Cowley Hill, a joint venture between developer Promenade Estates and brownfield land specialist BXB, won planning approval for a 1,100-home scheme at Cowley Hill in 2022 and is in the process of remediating the site. 

Gary Goodman, land and planning director for BXB, said: “The commencement of the enabling works for phase one, which will be completed shortly, was key in securing an end user for this plot. 

“The team’s focus will now turn to securing detailed planning permission for the site’s new spine road and then delivering its construction along with the associated infrastructure.” 

There are another three plots up for grabs with planning permission for 900 homes. 

Once consent for the road is secured, BXB will turn its attention to enabling works for the other three sites. 

“Given current market conditions and the end user build out rates, it’s likely to be more than five years before the site is delivered in full,” Goodman added. 

“We’re already in discussion with the market around its medium-term needs and to ensure that the phases we deliver meet house-builders’ technical requirements.”  

Daniel Hynd, managing director of Promenade Estates, said the sale was evidence that the company’s brownfield-first strategy is delivering for the market. 

“Regenerating brownfield land is a much more sustainable way of delivering on the nation’s housing needs and we’re delighted that, once again, we have demonstrated our ability to transform a tricky site for housing use,” he said. 

“We remain on the lookout for similar large-scale opportunities and will bring the same expertise and foresight to bear when we find them.”   

The joint venture intends to retain the commercial element of Cowley Hill, which will be delivered once the housing sites have been sold.   

Bermans and Hill Dickinson acted on behalf of BXB Cowley Hill, alongside Northern Land Agency. Primus Law acted for Torus.