Developer halts work at Appleton and Stretton sites

Barratt and David Wilson Homes – both part of Barratt Developments Plc – were selected by Homes England to construct 180 properties in Stretton, on land bounded by Pewterspear Green Road and Stretton Road, and 370 properties at Appleton Cross.

Work is well under way at the Stretton site, with homes already built and occupied, while the construction of the remaining properties takes place.

And pre-construction work has been progressing on the land in Appleton over recent weeks.

However, Barratt Developments has confirmed it has taken the decision to temporarily close its 400 offices and sites across the country, with the exception of some necessary health and safety activities.

In a tweet, it added that it is in the process of doing this ‘safely and securely, as quickly as possible’.

Last summer, Duncan Inglis, head of accelerated delivery for Homes England in the north west, said the Government’s housing agency is making south Warrington a priority area because it is an area of growing housing need for people in the north west.

He added at Appleton Cross will help to meet the demand among local people for ‘good quality’ housing.

The scheme will include detached, semi-detached and mews style dwellings with associated car parking, landscaping and a public open space.

The developer said it is intended that 30 per cent of the units, 111 properties, will comprise affordable housing.

The proposed affordable housing comprises 40 two-bed homes and 71 three-bed homes.

The tenure split of the affordable units equates to 55 properties as affordable rent and 56 properties as shared ownership.

Earlier this month, reserved matters applications for the first phases of the overall scheme for land at Grappenhall Heys were approved.

The two applications, from Homes England and Rowland Homes, set out proposals to deliver 172 homes in total, with 30 per cent of affordable housing.

The overall scheme for Grappenhall Heys will see 400 homes built.