Watkin Jones, the UK’s leading developer and manager of residential properties for rent, is pleased to announce it has agreed to develop and deliver 295 new homes on behalf of Torus, the largest affordable housing provider in the North West of England, which will be partly funded by Homes England.

The new scheme will result in the regeneration of an existing brownfield site, forming part of an overall masterplan to regenerate the former industrial site in St Helens, with the initial phases already under construction by third parties. This next phase of the scheme will see Watkin Jones deliver 295 new homes with a mix of affordable tenures.

The scheme, which is entirely focused on delivering new, affordable properties (including social rentals), will introduce two, three, and four-bedroom family homes, in addition to mews-type properties and apartments.
Upon completion, Torus, which has a proven track record of delivering much needed housing and creating vibrant communities across the North West, will manage the development. The new properties will be located within walking distance of St Helens’ town centre and its well-connected rail station that offers fast trains to Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.

The development will benefit from significant green space and high-quality landscaping for residents. Furthermore, by working with its partners, Watkin Jones will deliver a revitalised brownfield site that will be fossil-fuel free, offering fully electric heating, aligning with its ESG commitments to sustainability.

George Dyer, Group Investment Director of Watkin Jones, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with Torus to deliver 295 homes in St Helens. The scheme will provide affordable housing across a variety of tenures, and will allow residents to benefit from high-quality housing offering good sustainability credentials.

“Like many towns across the country, there is a clear shortage of affordable housing in St Helens, so we are excited to be partnering with Torus, an organisation that has consistently demonstrated its dedication to addressing the housing challenges across the region.

“Delivering residential homes remains a key element of our overall residential strategy, and we look forward to growing our partnerships further in this space.”