Former Burtons Biscuits factory on Merseyside produced Jammie Dodgers and Wagon wheels until its closure in 2011 and now it will be the site of more than 250 new homes. Tony McDonough reports
More than 250 homes will be built on the site of a former Merseyside biscuit factory.
Agents at Avison Young have advised residential developer Bellway Homes on the purchase of the former Burtons Biscuits site in Moreton, where the company produced Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels until 2011. Burtons sold its nearby chocolate plant to Swiss outfit Barry Callebaut in 2018 and that facility remains open.
Bellway will now bring forward a scheme to build 257 homes on the site of which 21 will be for private sale and 26 will be affordable homes. Called Jellicoe Gardens, the scheme will see the restoration of an existing water feature designed by renowned landscape architect, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe.
Bellway will also pay £347,940 via a Section 106 agreement to improve the local ecology, provide football pitches and highways in the local area, as well as lift access improvements to the adjacent Moreton train station.
The private sale properties will consist of a range of different house types including three and four-bedroom detached homes and two and three-bedroom semi-detached homes. It will be one of the first developments in Merseyside to feature properties from Bellway’s new Artisan collection.
Claire Robinson, associate director at Avison Young, said: “The total site area extends to 24 acres and the houses that will be delivered on this brownfield site will help to address the shortage of new residential development in Wirral.
“It is encouraging that quality national housebuilders such as Bellway remain active and committed to sites such as this in Moreton as it will be an important step in the economy’s recovery following the COVID-19 restrictions.”
Demolition work has already started on the site. James McGivern, senior land manager at Bellway, added: “We are delighted to have acquired the site and to be able to progress plans to cater for a wide variety of prospective home owners.”