WORK on a major new housing development in Warrington town centre is well under way.

The nine-storey block now casts an imposing shadow over that part of the town centre.

The former Kwik Save and Skate Academy building was demolished last September and work began on building a block of 144 apartments on the Academy Street land.

Lane End developments has been appointed to work with housing giant Torus to build the block of nine-storey apartments.

Contracts were signed in December 2018 and the new units will provide one and two-bed apartments for private rent.

The homes are across the road from the new Time Square development which includes a Cineworld, The Botanist and the new market.

Work briefly stopped at the start of lockdown but restarted a couple of weeks later.

It is hoped the homes will be ready for residents by next summer.

Government minister Esther McVey praised the scheme during a visit to Warrington in February.

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