Taylor Wimpey kicks off 470 Leigh homes
Land acquisition has been completed, allowing the volume housebuilder to start work on a project given detailed consent in 2024.
Located off Plank Lane and neighbouring Taylor Wimpey’s sold-out Pennington Wharf development, the developer has now completed the acquisition necessary to pave the way for a scheme billed as Westmere Gardens.
The development will comprise a mix of two- to four-bedroom homes, including mews, semi-detached and detached properties. Three- and four-bedroom homes will be available via open market sale, while 25% of the development will be classed as affordable housing across two- to four-bedroom homes, including a small number of bungalows.
As part of the agreement to develop, Taylor Wimpey Manchester will make a contribution of around £1.4m to local education, play areas and open space, biodiversity and the local travel plan.
With work now underway, the first homes are expected to be ready to occupy in summer 2027.
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Edward Ramsden, land director at Taylor Wimpey Manchester, said: “This site is a significant acquisition following receiving planning approval in 2024, and with work now underway, we look forward to continuing our presence in Leigh to meet the demand for high-quality, energy-efficient new-build homes in the area.”
Proposals to build around 470 homes on land previously referred to as West Leigh Waterfront have been bubbling under for around a decade, initially promoted by Wigan Council and the Canal & River Trust.
Taylor Wimpey, which was already delivering in the area, then got involved. Following consultation, the housebuilder’s outline 470-home proposition went to committee in 2022, succeeding in the face of a welter of local objections, many citing traffic concerns.
As described on the company’s website, along with housing Westmere Gardens will also deliver new drainage infrastructure, public open space, new pedestrian and cycle routes across the site, enhancements to the canalside and a new bridge over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
Two new vehicular accesses will serve the development in the form of a new three-arm roundabout on Plank Lane and a new arm to the existing roundabout on Firs Lane, at each end of the masterplan outline.
