Nearly 150 homes built on two brownfield sites in Leigh and Wigan have been handed over by Torus housing association as part of its large-scale investment in the borough.
In Plank Lane, Leigh, 78 apartments and nine bungalows for over 55s have been completed in a £20 million scheme. Named Furnace Court in homage of the former Bickershaw Colliery nearby, the 1.2-acre site had sat empty in recent years.
Now, 50 one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom apartments as well as nine bungalows featuring private gardens stand on the land with properties available at Affordable Rent. The scheme is fully accessible for residents with gentle gradients removing the need for steps and wide paths for wheelchair use.
Built by Caddick Construction, the properties are thermally efficient and feature modern conveniences to provide comfortable, safe homes for residents. As a former commercial brownfield site, there was little greenery so extensive planting has taken place with trees, ornamental shrubs and hedges introduced to make Furnace Court homely. Groundcover, lawns, paved areas and meandering paths with benches to relax on have also been landscaped for residents to enjoy.
The second site transformed by Torus is in Frog Lane, Wigan. This £12.5 million development is the final phase of a brownfield regeneration of a key site close to central Wigan with 60 two and three-bedroom houses for Affordable Rent built by Casey Group.
