Handover starts for sustainable, affordable homes in West Lancs, Manchester
When the two projects complete, there will be 50 new mixed-tenure residences at Fairlie in Skelmersdale and 69 social rent homes in Newton Heath.
Skelmersdale
The handover has begun at the former Fairlie Primary School playing field site in Birch Green. Tawd Valley Developments has delivered the first seven houses of West Lancashire Council’s 50-home project – with the remaining set to complete in early 2024.
The £8m scheme includes a mixture of semi-detached and terraced houses, bungalows, and apartments. Of the houses, 13 are set to be affordable-rent-to-buy, a new tenure for the council.
Whitfield & Brown is the main contractor for the scheme, which was designed by John McCall Architects with engineering by ARP Associates.
All of the council homes feature dual-zone heating and double glazing to help them be as energy efficient as possible. EV charge points have also been installed. Four of the houses will be built to low-carbon standards.
Mark Kitts, managing director of the council-owned Tawd Valley Developments, welcomed new residents to the finished houses.
“A big part of our remit is providing high quality, energy-efficient new homes through a range of tenures for local people, investing in the wider environment as we go,” he said.
“This is our largest development to date and we won’t be stopping here, with more schemes across West Lancashire to announce soon.”
Cllr Nicola Pryce-Roberts, the portfolio holder for housing at West Lancashire Council, described the project as “a testament to the council’s commitment to building the affordable, much-needed, quality homes which our residents deserve”.
She continued: “This latest scheme offers a diverse range of housing options, including the first rent-to-buy housing initiative undertaken by the council, contributing to the strength, diversity and unity of our neighbourhoods. We look forward to the first tenants moving in and the completion of the site next year.”
Local member of Parliament, Ashley Dalton, also shared her praise for the project.
“It’s so exciting to see Tawd Valley Developments, a West Lancashire Borough Council company, blazing a trail with innovative ways to deliver affordable housing for local people,” she said.
“There is a huge demand for affordable, high-quality homes especially given the cost-of-living crisis and the huge rise in interest rates. These seven homes in Skelmersdale mark the next development of our new town and point to its bright future”.
Newton Heath
Main contractor Rowlinson has delivered the first 11 houses to Manchester City Council for its 69-home project off Silk Street.
The homes have been built on a patch of brownfield alongside the Rochdale Canal. They will include 17 three-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses, 12 two-bedroom flats, and 36 one-bedroom apartments.
Rowlinson plans to hand over the remaining 10 houses by the end of this month, with the 48 flats set to be complete by early autumn.
All of the homes have been built to be low-carbon and energy efficient, with air source heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging facilities for the houses.
The apartments will all have their own balcony as well as access to shared outdoor green space. They will have ground source heat pumps, green roofs, and follow HAPPI design principles so they are easily accessible by those using wheelchairs.
Modern City Architecture & Urbanism designed the project for Manchester City Council, alongside Ridge, Energy Council, and landscape architect TBA.
“This really is a moment for celebration,” said Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, reflecting on the handover.
“I have followed this development closely from the planning stages, through construction and it’s wonderful to see these homes finally complete and passed over to the new residents, who I am sure will be very pleased with their new home,” White continued.
“This development represents the commitment we have to our residents to build more high-quality social and affordable homes, while also delivering low carbon properties that are cheaper to run.”
White concluded: “At Silk Street we aren’t just building property. We’re building a lasting community of people who love their homes, love their neighbourhood, and have real pride in where they live. And this is what building homes should be about.”
David Chilton, managing director at Rowlinson, was similarly glowing in his praise of the project.
“This is a great community to be working alongside and we’re proud to be part of the team that is bringing low-carbon living to the new residents,” Chilton said. “The completed homes are delivering a new, high standard for social housing with a range of smart solutions, making them affordable to rent and to live in, whilst helping to protect the environment.
“Our work is continuing at pace to complete the equally impressive apartments, meaning more people can benefit from this high quality, sustainable development.”