Galliford Try Partnerships has signed a deal to buy three sites from Cheshire West and Chester Council to build both open market and affordable homes.
The regeneration organisation will develop 188 homes across the three sites and — thanks to the partnership arrangement between Galliford Try Partnerships and Cheshire West and Chester Council — 30% of them will be built on behalf of the Council to deliver new housing for affordable rent.
The agreement will see 54 homes built on land at the former Acorns Primary School, Ellesmere Port; 52 homes constructed at Rivacre Business Centre, also at Ellesmere Port; and at Handley Hill, Winsford, 82 homes will be developed.
The homes earmarked for open market sale will be available to buy through Galliford Try Partnership’s housebuilding arm, Linden Homes, with the affordable rental properties available to let through the council.
Galliford Try Partnerships Managing Director Brendan Blythe described the deal as good news for local people. Brendan said: “We are delighted to have secured these three sites in the Cheshire West and Chester area from the council.
“It will enable Galliford Try Partnerships to deliver a wide mix of housing options and we look forward to working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council once again to bring much-needed council housing to the area.”
Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Growth commented: “This is really good news for people looking for high quality housing in Ellesmere Port and Winsford. The Council is committed to delivering safe and secure housing for families in our borough, so these new developments will give people the opportunity to buy a new home, or to rent one at an affordable rate.
“Last year 627 new affordable homes were built in our borough by the Council, housing associations and developers, so I’m delighted that this is continuing with a new agreement for a further 188 properties, 30% of which will be new affordable homes. Cheshire West and Chester Council will continue to develop innovative partnerships to help solve the housing crisis in this country.”
The three-site developments follow other Galliford Try Partnerships projects in Cheshire West and Chester including Watling Street, Northwich, where it is building 70 retirement apartments in partnership with Your Housing Group at the site of former town centre council offices.
The regeneration expert also recently completed construction of 141 new houses and apartments — 45 of them council homes — at Chase Park, Ellesmere Port, on the site of a former greyhound stadium. They were the first new-build council homes in the borough for 40 years.
The latest developments will further boost the local authority’s Housing Delivery Programme, which will see 230 new council homes built across the borough by 2019.
Brendan Blythe added: “We are proud to continue our regeneration work across Cheshire West & Chester with this latest partnership. It will bring up to 57 new homes for affordable rent as well as properties for those looking to buy.
“All three sites pose their own challenges but because of Galliford Try Partnerships’ innovative approach to regeneration, and our depth and breadth of expertise in delivering more complicated projects, we can confidently bring these developments forward.”
Planning applications for the three sites are expected to be submitted for planning approval in Summer 2019.
