Work starts on Prospect Homes’ £32m Widnes development
The developer has started work on site at its South Lane project, aiming for the first properties to go on the market this summer.
Named Abbey Vale, the project got the green light in July last year for 99 homes ranging from two to four bedrooms houses, 20% of which will be affordable.
According to Prospect, the first properties at Abbey Vale are expected to be released for sale in the summer with show homes planned to open in the autumn.
The gross development value of the project is £32m.
Prospect acquired the 8.6-acre site, located off South Lane, from landowner Stephen Brookes who says he chose the developer because of the company’s values and reputation.
He said: “When we came to the decision to sell our home, we were approached by numerous house builders. Prospect stood out to us because of their ‘Homes for Good’ ethos and we liked the idea that profits from the sale of homes at Abbey Vale will be reinvested into social housing in the area.”
Michael Orgill, managing director of Prospect, said: “It’s a real milestone moment for Prospect Homes to see work start on this site. It was also lovely to be joined by Stephen, whose family has lived at Abbey Farm since the 1860s.
“The new community that we are building is bringing much-needed homes to the area and we’re pleased that we can deliver this.”
Prospect Homes, which is part of Riverside Group, will invest more than £600,000 into the local community via Section 106 agreements.
From left: Prospect’s Andrew Denton and Sam Palin and previous landowner Stephen Brookes. Credit via Active PR.
Eden Rose Consulting designed the scheme and Stantec is the planning consultant. The project team also includes landscape architect Golby + Luck, arborist consultant Trevor Bridge Associates, and transport consultant SCP.
Orgill added: “Widnes has been an area we have sought to build in for a while. The location of Abbey Vale with its lovely outlook, amenities and transport links, is going to be a really great place to call home.”
The site was identified in the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan as land for residential development and the 99 homes will contribute towards the council’s target of delivering 8,050 homes by 2037.
Learn more about the project by searching application reference number 22/00377/FUL on Halton Council’s planning portal.
