Property round-up: Miller Homes; Orbit Developments; Fourways; ECF; Torus
Housebuilder, Miller Homes, says it will deliver more than 300 new homes across the region in 2025, with in excess of 40% of those allocated as affordable housing.
These homes are designed to meet the needs of modern buyers, combining energy-efficient features with layouts that suit contemporary living.
A key development this year will be Thorley Glade at the former World of Pets site in Timperley, subject to detailed planning approval.
This project will deliver 76 homes, 34 of which will be affordable homes. As part of its plans, Miller Homes will be investing nearly £900,000 in community infrastructure and local benefits around the scheme.
Miller Homes also remains committed to supporting local communities with its Community Fund returning in 2025. Two funding rounds in March and September will provide grants of up to £2,000 to local charities and organisations, with a total of more than £10,000 set to be donated throughout the first half of 2025.
Clare Noakes, Sales Director at Miller Homes North West, said: “the North West of England continues to be a key area for us, and we are dedicated to delivering much needed housing across this region.
“Over the last few years demand for our homes across the North West has continued to rise, and we look forward to providing more house hunters with their dream homes.”
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M&S Middlebrook
Orbit Developments has unveiled a partnership with retailer Marks & Spencer to improve and refurbish its existing store at Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, to expand into two adjacent units, and build a small extension at the rear.
This new brand-defining M&S full line store will significantly enhance the shopping experience for customers in the area and strengthen the retail offering for Bolton at Middlebrook, while creating around 108 jobs and offering a boost to the local economy.
One of the adjacent units being redeveloped has been vacant since Wilko’s closure in August 2023, and this transformation marks a positive step for the park’s future.
Orbit Developments is also working closely with Boots, a long standing retailer at Middlebrook, to ensure its continued presence. Alternative premises have been offered to Boots.
Work is expected to start later in 2025, with the new Marks & Spencer full line store expected to open in December 2026.
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Fourways House
XLB and Pictet Alternative Advisors, represented by Savills, has let further space at Fourways in Manchester to All About Food and IP Integration, leaving just three spaces remaining at the scheme.
All About Food has expanded from its existing 4,070 sq ft space to take an additional 2,423 sq ft on a seven-year lease, while IP Integration, represented by Canning O’Neill, has taken a 10-year lease on 1,944 sq ft.
Following these latest lettings, Fourways has also had further space become available, which is currently being refurbished and totals 3,370 sq ft on the ground floor, along with 2,859 sq ft and 871 sq ft on the fifth floor. All returning suites are being delivered fully fitted ready for immediate occupation.
Located on Hilton Street in the sought after Northern Quarter area of Manchester city centre, Fourways is an all-electric, converted Grade II-listed brick building arranged over six floors and offers a Very Good in-use BREEAM rating.
Daniel Barnes, office agency director at Savills Manchester, said: “These recent lettings demonstrate the demand and commitment to the scheme and its compatibility with the needs of modern day businesses.
“We are also very pleased to be marketing new space, which has recently become available at the scheme and expect it will prove popular with a variety of occupiers wanting high quality office space in the heart of the Northern Quarter.”
CBRE is joint agent on the building.
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CGI of Farmer Norton scheme
ECF, formerly English Cities Fund, has submitted plans for 42 affordable, Passivhaus Classic standard certified homes on Cleminson Street’s Farmer Norton car park in Salford.
The low-rise, three-bedroom homes will form part of Adelphi Village, a residential community situated to the east of the River Irwell, and one of the six development zones that make up the £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan.
Delivered by the Crescent partnership, comprising Salford City Council, University of Salford and ECF, a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and nationwide placemaker, Muse, the masterplan aims to provide up to 3,000 homes in total.
Residents of the affordable homes, designed by dRMM Architects, will benefit from reduced energy bills of up to 90% compared with traditional housing, a comfortable living environment, enhanced ventilation, and sustainable design and build. The homes will also be set around high quality public realm.
Farmer Norton follows the success of Greenhaus, which saw 96, 100% affordable, pioneering Passivhaus homes delivered on Chapel Street, the largest Passivhaus Classic standard certified development in the North West at the time of completion in March 2024.
Work is also under way on Willohaus, a community of 100 Passivhaus apartments located on Peru Street, which is scheduled to complete in 2026.
If Farmer Norton receives planning consent, work is expected to begin in summer 2025.
Steve Thomas, senior development manager at ECF, said: “Through the creation of Passivhaus communities like Farmer Norton, we’re bringing together placemaking, regeneration and investment expertise to bridge the gap for affordable, high quality, sustainable homes.
“We’ll build on the success and learnings from Greenhaus and Willohaus, ensuring we continue to deliver much needed housing that has a positive impact on the environment and the people of Salford.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: “Providing high quality, affordable, sustainable homes is a key priority of mine, and a scheme such as this which helps us deliver the homes our residents need and deserve is very welcome.”
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Plank Lane development
Nearly 150 homes built on two brownfield sites in Leigh and Wigan have been handed over by Liverpool-based housing association, Torus, as part of its large scale investment in the borough.
In Plank Lane, Leigh, 78 apartments and nine bungalows for over-55s have been completed in a £20m scheme.
Named Furnace Court in homage of the former Bickershaw Colliery nearby, the 1.2 acre site had sat empty in recent years.
Now, 50 one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom apartments, as well as nine bungalows featuring private gardens, stand on the land with properties available at affordable rent.
The scheme is fully accessible for residents with gentle gradients removing the need for steps and wide paths for wheelchair use.
Built by Caddick Construction, the properties are thermally efficient and feature modern conveniences to provide comfortable, safe homes for residents.
As a former commercial brownfield site, there was little greenery so extensive planting has taken place with trees, ornamental shrubs and hedges introduced to make Furnace Court homely.
Groundcover, lawns, paved areas and meandering paths with benches to relax on have also been landscaped for residents to enjoy.
The second site transformed by Torus is in Frog Lane, Wigan.
This £12.5m development is the final phase of a brownfield regeneration of a key site close to central Wigan with 60 two- and three-bedroom houses for affordable rent built by Casey Group.
Torus Group Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said: “The borough of Wigan is an important growth and investment area for us with six schemes delivered or under way the past 12 months.
“We have made a long term commitment to build at scale to address housing demand and create communities local people are proud of.
“Furnace Court and Frog Lane cater for a wide range of people, meet local needs and have transformed two unused brownfield sites making a positive addition to existing communities.”
Cllr Susan Gambles, cabinet portfolio holder for housing and welfare, said: “It is great to see these homes completed and ready for people to move in, bringing brownfield land back to life and creating much needed affordable homes in our borough.”
