Countryside/Torus JV pays £100m+ for Warrington resi opportunity
The housebuilders have acquired the 170-acre Peel Hall site from Satnam Investments, paving the way for its redevelopment into 1,200 homes.
Countryside Partnerships and Torus Developments paid in excess of £100m for the site, according to the former. The companies will now seek to progress a mixed-tenure scheme, delivering 600 homes each. Around 500 will be available on affordable tenures.
“This is the largest site Torus has undertaken and Peel Hall is a great opportunity for us and our partners, Countryside,” said Chris Bowen, managing director of Torus Developments.
“Building over 500 new affordable homes in Warrington – an area integral to Torus’ history – and unlocking a landmark site that will become a fantastic asset for the local community is something we’re incredibly proud to have a hand in.”
Satnam was granted outline planning permission for up to 1,200 homes on the site at appeal in 2021.
Warrington Council had rejected the proposals, which also feature plans for a school, a supermarket, and 80,000 sq ft of employment space, but the Secretary of State overturned that decision, citing the authority’s lack of five-year housing supply.
Satnam then appointed Savills to find a buyer for the site, understood to be one of the largest residential opportunities in the North.
Ed Rooney, development director at Savills, said the transaction is the “highest value residential land deal ever concluded in the North of England”.
“We are delighted to announce the sale of the land on behalf of the Satnam Group,” Rooney said.
“The purchasers will be developing 1,200 much-needed homes on the site. We are thrilled to have concluded such a fantastic deal on behalf of our client.”
It is understood the scheme could deliver around £10m in Section 106 contributions and contribute around £150m to the local economy.
The scheme, located on Green Belt bordering the M62, Poplars Avenue, Windermere Avenue, and Grasmere Avenue, sparked objections from local residents who were concerned about the impact the development would have on local roads.
Warrington Council declined to comment.
Great news looking forward to seeing the new homes built.
By MJ
Massive development largest in the north well done Torus and countryside
By George
Good luck with that, you muppets.
The land at Peel Hall has always been waterlogged and prone to flooding. I’d say you’ve just wasted £100 million.
By Local Resident
Torus and Countryside set to destroy the local surrounding area, the infrastructure cannot cope with any more houses, building on precious green belt and killing so much wildlife and their habitats in the process. Not very well thought through at all! Such a shame for the area.
By Local Resident
This is still as unsubstantial as it was 30 odd years ago when planning permission was first applied for. It’s a disaster for the local community
By Anonymous
Same fight different opponent. Hope the wildlife wins for us all
By Anonymous
Another 2000 plus cars emerging onto Mill Lane and Poplars Avenue in an area already gridlocked morning and evening. It is a disaster for all local residents and a disgrace for WBC who never seemed to want to stop it.
By Anonymous
This is the greatest disaster to happen to north Warrington! 1200 houses on a site with no natural access and bordered by the M62. New Town didn’t develop the site due to drainage problems. Satnam bought it for a song and have made a huge profit. WBC even included the land in their Local Plan. Shame on them!
By Anonymous
What an achievement!
Well done for destroying precious habitats including badger sets, nesting birds, foxes, deer….the list goes on…..
By Anonymous
Peel Hall, crazy idea, lived here for years, how much more traffic can this area take. Air pollution is bad enough as it is.
By Anonymous