A North West housing association, Torus, has recently obtained permission to commence a significant housing project, marking the first phase of a plan to construct over 1,000 homes. This development takes place on the Cowley Hill site, identified as the largest single housing allocation in the St Helens local plan, with a total of 1,100 homes envisioned.

Torus has successfully acquired a 12-acre plot within this site from BXB Cowley. The initial phase has been approved for 200 homes, including a children’s play area and a substantial acre of public space. The transaction’s financial details remain undisclosed.

This project is part of a collaborative venture between developer Promenade Estates and BXB, specialists in brownfield land. Their combined goal is to create approximately 900 additional homes across three more development plots.

Chris Bowen, the managing director at Torus Developments, expressed excitement about this landmark project. He highlighted the significance of Cowley Hill in the company’s portfolio and the transformative potential it holds for the area. Torus plans to construct these homes alongside other new properties near sites where obsolete housing stock is currently being demolished.

Daniel Hynd of Promenade Estates commended the sale, emphasising the sustainable impact of redeveloping brownfield land to meet national housing needs. The company remains on the lookout for similar large-scale opportunities to apply their expertise in transforming challenging sites for housing.

Legal firms Bermans and Hill Dickinson, along with the Northern Land Agency, represented BXB in the deal, while Primas Law acted for Torus. Gary Goodman, BXB’s land and planning director, outlined the next steps, focusing on securing detailed planning permission for a new spine road and associated infrastructure. The enabling works for the subsequent phases are planned to facilitate sales over the medium term, with the full site’s delivery expected to span over five years, considering market conditions and build-out rates.

In related news, Torus completed the sale of the Melwood training ground back to Liverpool Football Club last June, marking a new era for the club’s women’s team and academy. This sale is part of Torus’s broader strategy to revitalise and repurpose key land areas for community benefit.