St Helens approves 475 homes

Miller Homes and Stanley Land and Homes have tasted success in the borough following a meeting of the council’s planning committee yesterday. 

Higher Lane – Rainford   

Miller Homes has been given planning permission to build a £14.7m neighbourhood on a 32-acre site off Higher Lane and Rookery Lane.  

The scheme comprises 307 houses and apartments, providing a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom properties.  

Around one-third of the homes would be delivered on affordable tenures.  

St Helens Council’s head of planning Kieran Birch said the scheme was “a significant improvement” compared to the original proposal that sought permission for 337 homes. 

Barton Willmore is the planning consultant for the project, while Cavendish is the communications consultant. Sten Architecture created the draft layout for the scheme.  

To learn more about the development, search for planning reference number P/2022/0461/FUL on St Helens Council’s planning portal. 

Lancots Lane   

Torus will manage the homes. Credit: via Freshfields

Stanley Land and Homes applied for planning permission to redevelop 11 acres of brownfield land off Lancots Lane in April.  

The scheme comprises 168 homes, a mix of houses, apartments, and bungalows, which would all be delivered as affordable and managed by Torus62.  

Some 72 of the properties would be available for affordable rent with 96 earmarked for shared ownership.  

The professional team behind the development includes architect MPSL Planning and Design, engineer Alan Johnston Partnership, and planner Hive Land and Planning.    

To learn more about the project, search for planning reference number P/2023/0231/FUL on St Helens Council’s planning portal. 

Work on the scheme is expected to begin in the new year, with Holmpatrick Developments, lined up as contractor. 

Neil Hughes, director of Stanley Land and Homes, said: “We are thrilled to be delivering this scheme to our RP partner Torus. At Stanley, we believe affordable housing should enjoy the highest standards of urban design and quality. 

“Along with our neighbouring scheme on Baxters Lane, the construction of 196 new homes will drive a complete transformation of the area and prove to be an exemplary demonstration of brownfield regeneration. Recognition and thanks should be given to the LPA at St Helens, which has worked with us in a highly collaborative way.”