Work starts on Philips factory homes
Elan Homes has started construction of 157 homes on a former factory site in Southport.
The housebuilder acquired the 14-acre former site of electrical products manufacturer Philips’ factory on Balmoral Drive earlier this year with outline planning consent. It subsequently enlisted contractors to demolish the disused buildings.
John Kendrick, managing director of Elan, said: “The former Philips site is a significant acquisition for Elan and the development will be part of the expanding Northern business over the coming years.
“We recognise that there’s a wider housing need and redeveloping brownfield sites such as this gives us the opportunity to address that demand. Ahead of changes to Help to Buy being introduced next year, we’re moving towards a wider product mix to cater for a variety of buyers and budgets.”
Located within a residential area of northern Southport, the site had been used as a factory since the early 20th century, initially for the production of Vulcan cars.
Utilised for the manufacture of aircraft gun turrets during World War II, its later manufacturing occupiers included electronics giant Philips, which used it for making magnets for TV products.
Elan will build on 11 acres of the 14 acre site. Located on Balmoral Drive, the scheme has been named Balmoral Gardens. The 157 homes will include two, three and four-bedroom designs, each home coming with an electric vehicle charge point.
The company will make an education contribution of £334,000 to local schools and finance highways works on North Road as part of its agreement for the site.
Kendrick concluded: “As part of our commitment to sustainable development, we’re bringing a vacant site back into good use and also creating new open space for the community to enjoy.”
Elan’s completed schemes within the Liverpool city region include projects in Crosby, Mossley Hill and Aigburth. The homebuilder’s current sites in the area include The Dunes in Formby and Mossley Gardens, Mossley Hill.
