Houses let on ex-Sycamore Lane School site in Hood Manor

The properties for the rental market are being built at the former sites of Sycamore Lane Primary School in Hood Manor and Foxwood School in Birchwood.

There has been great interest in the Great Sankey scheme Sycamore, which is being delivered in seven phases over the next 10 months, according to Warrington Borough Council.

All houses in phases one to four of the scheme have now been completely let, with tenants completing referencing, but there are some apartments still available.

Sycamore will see the delivery 92 houses and apartments – with 28 of these affordable – in a mix of one and two-bed apartments and two and three-bed townhouses, with the first homes ready later this month.

Meanwhile, the plots at Foxwood in Birchwood are due to be released in the coming weeks.

Foxwood has 69 houses and apartments – with 21 of these affordable – in a mix of one- and two-bed apartments and two- and three-bed townhouses.

These will be delivered in six phases between March and September 2022.

The homes are being built on the former Sycamore Lane Primary School site in Hood Manor

Delivered by Incrementum Housing Development Company, which was set up and is owned by Warrington Borough Council, the two new developments are being built by Wates Construction.

In setting up the company, the council said it would ‘generate long-term rental income and deliver hundreds of new, fair rent homes over the coming years’.

The council says the houses will be managed on a fair rent basis, with 30 per cent of the homes available for affordable rent.

The development firm was successful in securing £2.2million in funding from Homes England, as well as a further £1.2million repayment funding from Ofgem’s renewable heat incentive scheme.

Both schemes have shared green community space with green corridor links, and the properties benefit from a range of sustainable initiatives including ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.

Cllr Hitesh Patel, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “These schemes are aimed at providing high standard, accessible, low-carbon living for local people, and meeting accommodation not currently being met in Warrington.

“It is great news that both schemes are making such great progress and that our Great Sankey development is generating a high level of interest from tenants – with all available houses already let.

“With the first tenants able to move in to their new home at Sycamore from later this month – and the plots at Foxwood being released shortly – I am looking forward to these fantastic housing schemes delivering a range of positive outcomes for residents, the wider community and the environment over the coming months.”