£69m development marks single largest investment for housing group

North West housing group Torus is investing more than £69m in new homes in Cheshire.

The 400-unit development in Leighton, Crewe, is the single largest investment the group has made and underlines Torus’s pledge to deliver more affordable homes across the region.

The Flowers Lane site is part of a £1bn investment programme from the new organisation – an amalgamation between Torus and Liverpool Mutual Homes – that will see completion of more than 700 new homes this year, a 60% increase on what the separate organisations achieved last year.

Outline planning approval is in place for a mixed-tenure site including affordable rent, shared ownership and rent to buy – designed to bring greater housing choice to the locality.

Infrastructure around the Flowers Lane area has had significant investment this year and the construction of this site – which is anticipated to start in Spring 2020 – will further enhance the area.

Liverpool-based Torus will work in partnership with housing developer Mulbury to build the 400 new homes on the Flowers Lane site.

Torus Developments managing director, Chris Bowen, said: “The sheer scale of this development and investment clearly shows our commitment to building high-quality affordable housing that meets local need.

“Our ambitious plans for Flowers Lane underline Torus’s ambition to deliver high quality homes in crucial regeneration areas, as part of our fundamental commitment to tackle the region’s housing crisis.”

Martin Bury, director of Mulbury Homes, added: “We’re proud to be partnering with Torus to build these new homes which will offer people greater choice in the local affordable housing sector.

“This will be the single largest site we’ve delivered to date in terms housing numbers and is part of our plans to help create 3,000 new homes across the North West over the next five years.”

2019 has been a landmark year for Torus, during which it was appointed a strategic partner for Homes England and earned recognition for several flagship developments.

The group’s renovation and regeneration of Ogden’s Tobacco Factory in Everton was named Affordable Housing Scheme of the Year at the Northern Housing Awards; a second regeneration project, Harrison Square, in partnership with Warrington Borough Council, has been shortlisted for Inside Housing’s Development Awards; and a 100-unit extra care scheme in Kirkby has been shortlisted in the Knowsley Business Awards.

Chris said: “These are exciting times for Torus. Our focus has always been on more than just building houses.

“As well as our ambitious new-build programme we always strive to ensure that wider communities benefit from significant growth and regeneration opportunities.

“We are delighted that our work this past year is being recognised and looking forward to further announcements in 2020, which is shaping up to be an equally exciting year.”