WORK has started on a £28 million scheme to create 161 new, affordable homes at two former school sites in Birchwood and Great Sankey, Warrington.
The two new developments are being built on the former Fox Wood Special School site in Birchwood, and the former Sycamore Lane Community Primary School site in Great Sankey.
Both sites will have homes available for private rent and private affordable rent. In Birchwood, there will be 69 properties, including 32 two-storey houses and 37 apartments, and the Great Sankey site will include 92 homes – 47 two-storey houses and 45 apartments.
The schemes are being developed by Incrementum Housing Development Company Ltd and will be managed by Incrementum Housing Management Company Ltd. These are commercial enterprise companies which were set up, and are owned by, the council to generate income and deliver hundreds of affordable homes over the coming years.
The new housing company was successful in securing £2.2million of local authority accelerated construction (LAAC) funding from Homes England, and a further £1.2million repayment funding has been secured via Ofgem’s renewable heat incentive scheme.
It is anticipated that the first houses will be handed over in November this year, with both schemes set to be completed in October 2022.
Council leader, Cllr Russ Bowden said: “There has been a lot of debate in the town in recent years around the number of houses that are needed for the future – of the right sort, in the right places, and with the right standard in terms of affordability, accessibility and sustainability.
“In Warrington, like in many other towns and cities across the country, there is not enough supply of affordable housing, so we have had to find new ways to generate income to fund investment and development in new and affordable homes.
“It’s crucial that we are able to create affordable housing that is sustainable and fit for the future. These new developments will be efficient for tenants to run and will minimise negative impacts on the environment, which supports our vision to be carbon neutral by 2030, and sets the standard for modern living in Warrington.”
The developments are set to generate long-term rental income for the council, but will also help to combat fuel poverty and attain zero-carbon status. Energy will be supplied via a communal ground source heat pump system and free electricity will be provided to tenants from roof-mounted solar panels. The houses will be managed on a fair rent basis, with 30% of the homes available for affordable rent.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for housing, public health and wellbeing, said: “It’s exciting to see that work has started on these two new, much-needed developments. As well as offering a high standard of affordable living, they have been designed and planned to deliver a range of positive outcomes for the local environment and economy, as well as the local community.
“We hope that the new housing will be a positive addition to the community and help to improve wellbeing by generating local employment opportunities, use of local businesses, volunteering initiatives and an enhanced environment. Both schemes will benefit from shared community green spaces with green corridor links running through them.
“They will not only create sustainable income to be reinvested back into council services, but will also boost affordable housing in the town, which will be of great benefit to people who are disabled, families on low income, and older people.”
Further information about the new developments can be found scape.co.uk/case-studies/incrementum-housing-warrington
Pictured (L – R) Council leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, Cabinet Member for housing, public health and wellbeing, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin and Mark Dennett, Chair of Incrementum Housing Development Company Ltd getting work underway at the Sycamore Lane site in Great Sankey.
