Work on a £14.3m Liverpool city region housing scheme, delivering 19 homes, ground to a halt when thr original contractor collapsed – now it is back on track. Tony McDonough reports
Construction firm Anwyl partnerships says it is on track to deliver a £14.3m Liverpool city region housing scheme after the original contractor collapsed into administration.
Work on Halton Court, a mix of 119 two, three-and four-bedroom homes for shared ownership and affordable rent, ground to a halt in summer 2020 following the collapse of Warrington-based Cruden Construction, which had debts of £19m.
Late last year, housing associations Magenta Living and Onward Homes, who are behind the project, brought in Welsh construction and property group Anwyl to pick up the job. Anwyl now says it is making “solid progress” with a show home ready for viewing in summer 2021. The first residents are expected to move in during 2022.
Anwyl’s team has worked collaboratively with both housing associations to address to rectify a series of critical design, planning and construction issues since work resumed at the site in November. The main drainage infrastructure and central spine road now in place, paving the way for further progress.
Tom Anwyl, managing director of Anwyl Partnerships, said: “It is inevitably challenging taking over a site where work is partly completed by another contractor. However, we are now at a place where the majority of the legacy issues have been addressed, allowing us to progress with our programme to complete the works by October 2022.
“We’ve had an excellent start to the project, and despite the challenges associated with lockdown, we are making strong progress. As well as construction of the central access road, we have begun to build all essential retaining walls across the site.”
Brian Simpson, chief executive of Magenta Living, added: “I am really pleased with the progress at Halton Court, especially as the development was delayed at the beginning and due to the COVID restrictions.
“Anwyl Partnerships have really picked up the pace with the development which is reflected in the progress to date. I’m really looking forward to seeing this project advance further with the ultimate goal of providing much needed affordable housing within the local area.”