Trust to build 570 new homes

KNOWSLEY Housing Trust (KHT) has announced plans to deliver 319 affordable new homes in the Merseyside borough.

Citing statistics provided by national charity Shelter, KHT says there are just 37% of properties in Knowsley classified as affordable in an area with a population of 145,900.

The rent properties will span seven different sites and include a mix of one and two-bed apartments, two and three-bed houses and several one-bed plus apartments, designed to meet the varying needs of people in the community and offer the best value for money.

The announcement by KHT – part of the First Ark Group – also includes 251 homes for shared ownership and outright sale, as part of the total 570 homes being built in Huyton, Kirkby, Halewood and Prescot over the next three years. The total investment is £57m.

The plans include the extra care housing development at Bluebell Park, Huyton, which comprises 122 apartments for residents aged above 55.

Once building is completed, Bluebell Park will provide onsite facilities such as a community centre as well as tailor-made care for its individual residents.

The properties will also incorporate eco-friendly features into each home’s specification to reduce energy bills.

KHT executive director Ian Thomson, said: “New homes in Knowsley are in demand, and it’s important that we act responsibly to plan and recognise the needs of our community.

“Our vision is to develop high quality yet affordable homes which provide future homeowners and residents with a wide variety of options, to ensure they can select the property which works best for them, all while keeping money in their pockets.

“As a responsible landlord and developer, every project we develop is designed to inspire communities and support the region’s residents.

“We’re continually pushing for further development across the North West and are working with some of the UK’s most renowned contractors to deliver quality, affordable homes and our objectives.

“As an organisation, we have an extremely strong infrastructure and reliable team in place to deliver each of our projects to the highest possible standards.”