Pictured L-R: Suzanne Houghton (HBC), Emma Washbourn (LCRCA), James Litherland (Cityheart), Laura Bailey (LCRCA), Cllr Phil Harris (HBC), Cllr Marie Wright (HBC), and Richard Rout (HBC).
Regeneration developer Cityheart, leading the transformation of Foundry Lane in Halebank, Widnes, has today submitted plans for the second phase of the scheme in partnership with Halton Borough Council.
The latest proposals seek outline planning permission for 240 new properties, adding to the first phase, contracted by Watson Construction, which is already set to bring 63 two and three-bedroom homes to the community in partnership with Plus Dane Housing.
Together, the phases will transform more than 20 acres of former industrial land, including the old Stobart and Tarmac sites, into a vibrant and sustainable new neighbourhood with a mix of housing options to address local demand. This is a key aspect of Halton Borough Council’s new boroughwide Housing Strategy which prioritises the delivery of new homes on brownfield land.
Since construction began in March this year, work on site has progressed at pace, with timber frames due to be installed in November. The proposed layout for Phase 2 goes further, introducing thoughtfully designed landscaping to create green public spaces for residents, along with improved access from Hale Road.
Key members of the Phase 2 project team include Corstorphine & Wright (Architect); MM Management Services (Project Manager & Cost Consultant); SGi Consulting Engineers (civil & structural engineers); Curtins (Highways & Geotech); Zerum (planning) and E3P (ecology and acoustics).
Cityheart has earned a strong reputation for delivering regeneration in partnership with both the public and private sectors. Current schemes include the transformation of Old River Lane in Bishop’s Stortford, the creation of new neighbourhood Stopford Park in Stockport, the regeneration of Prescot town centre in Knowsley, and Fettlers, a new community in Wigan.
The Foundry Lane project is continuing to be supported by funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
This month, partners came together on site to celebrate progress on Phase 1 and to launch a social value initiative with local councillors, which will bring lasting benefits to the community through charitable projects, employment opportunities and skills development.
James Litherland, Senior Development Manager at Cityheart, said: “The submission of plans for Phase 2 at Foundry Lane marks an important milestone in this regeneration journey. It will connect the new neighbourhood to the centre of Halebank and regenerate on of the Borough’s most challenging brownfield sites to deliver much needed high quality sustainable homes. Our success to date has been through the formation of dynamic public private partnerships with the support of Halton Borough Council, so long may that continue”.
Cllr Phil Harris, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Housing Strategy & Development, says: “In the last 11 years 55% of the housing built in Widnes and Runcorn has been on brownfield sites.
”When the Foundry Lane site has been completed 300 more homes will have been built on brownfield land instead of green fields elsewhere. I also welcome the much-needed homes for social rent included on this site.”
Halton Borough Council has worked closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Cityheart over a number of years to bring this site forward and the partnership is testament to how the public and private sectors can work together to unlock difficult sites.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “This is a major step forward for this important development in Halebank, which will create 300 new homes for local people on a former industrial site.
“Creating communities on forgotten, disused spaces is exactly what our £60m Brownfield Land Fund is designed to do. Through it, we are helping to build more than 4,500 new homes all on brownfield sites like this.
“It’s a vital part of how we are working hard to tackle the housing shortage and ensure that people right across our area have a great choice of high-quality homes.”
With works already underway on Phase 1, construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. More information on the Foundry Lane development can be found here.