HMS to complete Torus’s stalled £5m Burscough housing 

The redevelopment of Burscough FC’s former Victoria Park stadium into 52 affordable homes ground to a halt following the collapse of previous contractor Crossfield Living. 

Torus Developments has now appointed HMS to pick up the Linaria Fields development where Crossfield left off. 

Work is due to start this month and, once complete, the scheme will feature 21 homes available for affordable rent and 31 available for shared ownership. 

HMS, which is part of the Torus group, will rebuild a number of homes that were part-complete, in order to remove all materials that have weakened due to being exposed to the elements, according to Torus. 

“HMS has been appointed for a number of reasons – not least their ability to proactively restart and deliver sites such as Burscough,” said Steve Alcock, director of development and sales at Torus Developments. 

“To date, they have successfully taken over four schemes from other contractors and handed over 258 homes to Torus, highlighting HMS’ ability to deliver consistently.” 

Crossfield Living went into administration earlier this year prompting Torus to search for a contractor to complete the project. 

Concerns about the site were raised by West Lancashire Council and local MP Rosie Cooper earlier this year, while Torus said it was “committed to completing the development and bringing the new homes forward in due course”. 

“Unfortunately, against a backdrop of increased material and running costs and battling the ongoing effects of Covid-19, contractors going into administration and works halting on sites is becoming more and more common,” Alcock added. 

“As a Group, we are working hard to minimise the impact this has on our developments, but there are often a number of factors we cannot safeguard against, which can affect progress on sites.” 

Linaria Fields is the fifth stalled development HMS has picked up in recent years, the company said.

“We understand the local community’s frustration with the delays on site but now we have been appointed, the team is ready to mobilise and deliver the development that has been promised,” said HMS construction director John Barrow. 

“We will work hard to ensure that this will become an exemplary contribution to the local area and provide great homes, exactly where they’re needed.”