Accelerator programme puts scheme back on track

A stalled housing development is set to resume after a new partnership breathed new life into the project.

Lovell, the residential homes developer within the Morgan Sindall Group, has been appointed to deliver the first 139 homes at Signaller’s Croft, in Basford East, Crewe, following an agreement with housing association Onward Homes.

The scheme was paused in 2023 after the original contractor entered administration, but the development is now back on track with construction set to span the next two-and-a-half years.

Tahreen Shad, regional partnerships director for Lovell in the North West, said: “This new collaboration marks the exciting restart of a major development that will bring quality affordable homes to the Basford area of Crewe. 

“The area is familiar to Lovell, having successfully delivered 99 homes in 2023 just over a mile away at Weston Woods. 

“We understand the importance of building at scale and pace to meet local housing needs and will be using innovative timber frame construction to accelerate delivery.

“We look forward to handing over the first homes next year and working with Onward to transform this priority site.”

The development will offer affordable options including rent-to-buy and shared ownership, forming part of Onward’s wider plans for up to 449 homes.

Sandy Livingstone, executive director of property at Onward, whose partnership with Homes England will see the housing association build 5000 new homes by 2030, added: “We are very pleased to restart activity at Signaller’s Croft with our partner Lovell, a national builder of quality homes. 

“Lovell shares our vision to boost the choice and supply of quality homes in Cheshire East and has a proven track record of successfully delivering schemes at the scale and to the standards our customers expect.

“Our commitment to deliver hundreds of affordable homes for people in the Crewe area has never wavered. 

“We look forward to creating a vibrant place filled with modern homes that are both affordable for local people to rent or buy, and affordable to run in the long term.”

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