Agent appointed to market major St Helens housing site
The joint venture on a key consented housing site in the St Helens suburb of Cowley has appointed an agent to market the first two of four plots.
BXB Cowley Hill, the joint venture between Liverpool-based brownfield land specialist BXB and Promenade Estates, has appointed Ashton-under-Lyne-based Northern Land Agency.
The site, close to glass maker Pilkington’s plant, has approval for 1,100 homes in total.
Plot 1, at 12.7 acres, has consent for 220 homes, a children’s play area and an acre of public space. Plot 3, at just over 16 acres, has consent for 316 homes, a children’s play area and 2.8 acres of public open space.
BXB director, Gary Goodman, said: “With construction costs stabilising and residential land being in short supply, we believe this is the optimum time to invite offers for the site.
“Since securing outline consent we’ve been busy preparing the site for an onward sale. Working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, St Helens Council and SP Energy Networks, we’ve secured a new 10MVA electrical substation and completed a new dedicated access for Pilkington.
“In addition, we are in the process of making a detailed planning application for the site spine road and entrances and we will be offering the site up fully remediated. We are expecting strong interest and the project further demonstrates our expertise in the brownfield land sector.”
BXB and Promenade successfully secured planning consent for up to 1,100 new homes, a hotel and commercial space off College Street, north of St Helens town centre, in March 2022.
Cowley Hill Works is the largest brownfield land allocation within the St Helens local plan, which was adopted by the council in July last year.
Redevelopment of the site is expected to generate capital expenditure of £200m, with a further £15m expected to be spent on goods and services each year by new residents and £1.5m of annual council tax receipts generated on full occupation.
John Dunlop, of Northern Land Agency, says interest is already strong: “The market has been anticipating this launch and housebuilders have been quick out of the traps. When you have a site with all the fundamentals in place, which is close to the town centre and in an established area with good schools, that’s hardly a surprise.”
The joint venture intends to retain the commercial element of the consent, which will be delivered once the housing sites have been sold.
