Plus Dane on board for chunk of 300-home Widnes regen

Cityheart and Halton Council have agreed a deal with the housing association for the 63-home first phase of the £60m redevelopment of 20 acres of industrial land at Foundry Lane.

Watson Construction has been appointed as main contractor for Plus Dane Housing’s project, which features a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes.

Plus Dane deputy chief executive Claire Dixon said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with Cityheart to get this development moving and to help deliver 63 affordable homes for Widnes, that are in high demand.

“The Foundry Lane masterplan is ambitious and exciting, and we think the vision will completely transform this former industrial site into a desirable place to call home.”

The scheme is the first part of a wider 300-home project that Cityheart was selected to deliver in 2021.

The Foundry Lane masterplan aims to transform land that was was formerly the operational site for the Stobart and Tarmac businesses.

The core project team includes MM Management Services as project manager and Corstorphine & Wright as architect.  Engineer Curtins, planner Zerum, landscape architect DEP, and TACE on MEP are also advising.

PP O’Connor has carried out the land remediation.

James Litherland, senior development manager for Cityheart said: “We’ve been working closely with Plus Dane on the Foundry Lane scheme in recent months and are very pleased to announce them as our partners to bring this development forward, creating much-needed, sustainable and affordable homes for local people.

“This is a major milestone for Cityheart as we move forward into delivery across three major redevelopment projects in the North West including Foundry Lane, Stopford Park in Stockport, and Fettlers in Wigan town centre.”

The project is supported by funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Brownfield Land Fund and Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme.