Planning Approved for Torus’ £23 million Affordable Housing Development

The £23m development will see the group replace a disused part-brownfield site at the front of Knowsley Lane and Astley Road, with 131high quality two, three and four bedroomed homes designed by architects Bowker Sadler.

This is the second significant investment Torus has made in Knowsley in the past two years following hot on the heels of the group’s RICS award-winning £25m Maples development, which introduced a much-needed independent living complex for over 55s, supported living bungalows and affordable family homes to Kirkby.

The Knowsley Lane development of rent to buy homes, is a particularly attractive proposition for people who want to get onto the property ladder without over burdening themselves financially. The homes will be available at a reduced rent for the first five years, providing the opportunity to save for a deposit.

After 5 years residents will then be able to buy their home outright, or through shared ownership. At a time when construction is needed to stimulate economic recovery, this new development will not only provide affordable new homes, it will create valuable work and training for local people and local supply chains.

Working in partnership with Knowsley Borough Council and the Group’s charitable arm, Torus Foundation, Torus will invest financially and socially into Huyton and commit to creating a range of employment and training opportunities for the duration of construction project; including supporting local residents into employment, providing jobs with training, work experience opportunities, health and safety and construction skills courses, and school visits.

Due to start on site before the end of the year and complete in Autumn 2022, the development will be supported by the necessary infrastructure to ensure it can be developed without impacting on the surrounding community, including a dedicated 500kVA Substation, highway and drainage infrastructure.

Discussing the scheme, Managing Director of Torus Developments, Chris Bowen, said; “After the success of The Maples, investing in the growth of Knowsley continues to be a priority for us as a Group and we will continue to build –literally and figuratively –on the works we have started in the area.

“This scheme marks our commitment to bolstering the affordable housing and job market in the area and we will actively be working with local partners to recruit local talent to build the type of houses needed in the area.

“This is an exciting scheme and one which encapsulates our ongoing and sustainable approach to generating value for the people who live and work in Knowsley–specifically in the wake of COVID-19–to create a thriving, supported and strong community.”