A HOUSING developer which was granted planning permission for a ‘new beast’ scheme in south Warrington has entered administration.

House by Urban Splash was the applicant behind plans to build 228 homes at Grappenhall Heys – plans which were approved by Warrington Borough Council’s planning committee in June last year.

The site, which is located to the south of Curzon Drive, east of Lichfield Avenue and west of Stansfield Drive, has seen no activity since permission was granted.

The future of the plans is now uncertain following confirmation that House, a joint venture by Urban Splash, has seen administrators called in.

Adrian Berry, joint administrator from Teneo, said: “This appointment follows various operational issues relating to the factory in Alfreton.

“We will now look to stabilise the Urban Splash House Group by providing a platform to complete certain developments and explore sale options for the factory and the other development sites.

“We would like to thank all employees and other key stakeholders for their continued support.”

In a statement, Urban Splash added: “The directors of House – Urban Splash House Holdings Group – have appointed administrators from Teneo to the company.

Warrington Guardian: Impressions of how the site at Grappenhall Hays would look (Image: House by Urban Splash)Impressions of how the site at Grappenhall Hays would look (Image: House by Urban Splash)

“The appointment of Teneo senior managing directors Adrian Berry and Daniel Smith to the company has no impact on the wider Urban Splash group or its operations, which continue to run successfully.

“House is a joint venture between individual shareholders who own 48 per cent of the equity, Homes England which owns four per cent and Sekisui House UK Limited which owns the remaining 48 per cent of shares.

“The administrators will oversee completion and sale strategies for the company’s developments.”

Before the council’s planning committee approved the housing scheme at Grappenhall Hays, Andrew Johnston, head of planning at House by Urban Splash, said he had no doubt it would be a fantastic community for Warrington and a ‘pioneering low carbon neighbourhood for the future’.

He also said the scheme would enhance the area and be an example of a new way of taking housing forward.

After permission was granted, he added: “We are really excited to be in a position to now start work on delivering this pioneering new neighbourhood at Grappenhall, which we see as a new way of creating suburban homes for the 21st century.

“Over the past 27 years, Urban Splash has become well-known for our work transforming existing buildings and run-down parts of cities and towns across the north west and beyond using great modern design and creating a strong sense of community.

“We really believe there is a different way of building homes and communities for the future, and we look forward to bringing that vision to life here in Grappenhall, enabling people to live well by design.”