Work has started on a 170-home affordable housing development being delivered for housing association Riverside under the government’s Affordable Homes Programme.
The new housing development, Shropshire Gardens, is set to transform a derelict former factory site at Meadow Lane in Ellesmere Port.
The site, due to complete in late 2025, will include one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses.
The investment of affordable homes at the old Van Leer factory site aims to give local people a choice of ways to move into a home of their own.
The properties will be available under affordable rent, rent to buy, and shared ownership.
Boost to local economy
Nick Jones, Development director at Riverside, said: “We’re excited to be investing in this development, which will offer new affordable homes for rent and enables people to take the step into home ownership.
“Shropshire Gardens takes its name from the historic links that Ellesmere Port has to the canal network, and we’re proud to be contributing to the regeneration of the local area and provide a thriving place for people to live and work.”
Riverside is working with developer MCI, part of Keepmoat Homes, to deliver these energy efficient new homes, which also have electric car charging stations and include green open public spaces to create a high-quality neighbourhood.
Alex Wood, regional managing director at MCI Developments, said: “We’re looking forward to working in partnership with Riverside to bring this site, which has been derelict for over a decade back into use; and to deliver the scheme as part of Riverside’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England.
“We estimate the construction of the new homes will contribute around £27.8m to local economy and create around 138 jobs.”
Riverside is a UK-based social housing and regeneration specialist owning or managing around 58,300 homes.
Keepmoat Homes is partnership-focussed homebuilder providing affordable homes across the UK.
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