£22m deal to provide affordable and rent to buy stock on 113-home Wigan development
A 113-home development in Wigan will include affordable and houses available to rent following a £22m deal between homebuilder Northstone and the region’s largest affordable housing provider, Torus.
Wigan Council approved the scheme, off Stothert Street in Atherton, to be known as ‘Popple’, last month.
Now, new homes will be classed as affordable and available to rent, thanks in part to funding from Homes England.
The first energy-efficient homes at Popple are expected to be ready by autumn 2024. They’ll include 33 homes for affordable rent, 12 homes available for social rent, and 68 Rent To Buy properties.
It will also boast excellent sustainability credentials, with the all-electric community set to feature enhanced fabric to minimise heat loss, air source heat pumps and Electric Vehicle chargers.
The deal sees Torus acquire the site from Peel, with Northstone set to build the homes to their high standard.
Popple will boast a mix of homes to meet local demand, including one-bed apartments, alongside two-, three- and four-bedroom homes – catering for different people at different stages of life.
Jo Allen, Land & Partnerships Director at Northstone, said: “There’s no let-up in the housing crisis, with authorities like Wigan needing to diversify their housing mix to meet local demand. It’s fantastic to be partnering with Torus to deliver a 100% affordable home development that will set a new local benchmark for quality, sustainable rental communities surrounded by green space.
“Not everyone is in a position to buy and many want the flexibility of renting. Popple will mean those looking for affordable rental homes will have access to the same, high quality new build homes often only open to those who are buying.”
Torus is set to take on the site as part of its wider new-build development programme, increasing the number of, and access to, affordable homes across the North West.
Managing Director of Torus Developments, Chris Bowen, said: “As a housing group, we’re well aware of the current cost-of-living-crisis and how heavily it is impacting our communities and the cost of housing, so our mission to continue building great, affordable homes continues to be as pertinent as ever.”
Designed to embrace natural features and provide a central green corridor, the new neighbourhood will also link footpaths through the development into existing routes. Around 10,000 sq m of greenspace will be opened for the local community to enjoy, featuring new hedge and tree planting; as well as species-rich grassland.
Delivery of Popple is being supported by £6.6m of grant funding from the Homes England Strategic Partnership 2021-26 programme. It’s part of a wider investment strategy from both Northstone and Torus to invest in Wigan and the surrounding area.
It’s the second community the pair have collaborated on in the borough in the past 12 months, with affordable homes brought forward at Tulach, the former Pemberton Colliery site, in Wigan.
Cllr Susan Gambles, cabinet portfolio holder for housing and welfare at Wigan Council, said: “This is a really exceptional development, of good quality affordable homes that have been thoughtfully designed, making sure the energy source is both sustainable and will keep the bills low.”
Kate Collins, Senior Manager – Provider Manager, from Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.”
