THE development of new homes by the council’s housing company at two sites is running behind schedule.

Proposals to build 161 properties at two pieces of land in the town were approved in 2020.

The sites were the former Fox Wood Special School site in Birchwood, on Chatfield Drive, and the former Sycamore Lane Community Primary School site in Great Sankey.

The Labour-run council is the sole shareholder of Incrementum Housing Development Company Ltd, the development firm, as well as Incrementum Housing Management Company Ltd, the management firm.

Plans to build 69 properties for private rent and private affordable rent – 32 two-storey houses and 37 apartments – were approved for the Birchwood land.

Meanwhile, the proposals for 92 homes for private rent and private affordable rent – 47 two-storey houses and 45 apartments – were approved for the Great Sankey land.

An update on the schemes will be given to the supporting the local economy committee at its meeting next Wednesday.

Updates in a report to the committee say good progress has been made on the Sycamore Lane site and that brickwork on the ‘superstructures’ is progressing despite a nationwide shortage of bricks.

It confirmed the scheme remains a maximum of four weeks behind schedule, with the first houses to be handed over in November and the scheme completed in September 2022.

In relation to the Birchwood site, it has been stated that is facing a delay of a maximum of six weeks.

The first houses are due to be handed over in November, with the scheme completion estimated for August 2022.

It adds there is ‘strong interest’ in both schemes, while rental levels have been reassessed by Howell & Co and will form the basis of the updated business plan.

The authority created the two companies to generate income and deliver around 500 properties.

For more details visit warrington.gov.uk.