Developer Anwyl Partnerships is has acquired a three-acre Liverpool city region site which includes former offices and a laboratory and says it will build new family homes. Tony McDonough reports

A three-acre Liverpool city region site that has been unoccupied for four years will see the construction of new family homes under new plans.

North Wales-based developer and builder Anwyl Partnerships has exchanged contracts to acquire the former Alfred H Knight offices and laboratory off Prescot Road, Eccleston, in St Helens.

Anwyl already has a live planning application for a further 79 new homes off Rutland Street, Cowley Hill in St Helens. It says it aims to submit plans for the new site in the next few months with a view to starting work in 2023. NJL is the planning consultant and Lovelock Mitchel will the architect for the scheme.

Sam Oliver, land director at Anwyl Partnerships, said: “We are very much committed to targeting regeneration and investment in the delivery of quality housing in St Helens and this site is a great acquisition for the division.

“The site has been unoccupied for several years and our proposals will seek to repurpose the area for residential use. We have already commenced the process of technical investigations to inform our proposals and redevelop the land.

“We are now engaging with professional officers and consultees, and once all feedback is finalised, we intend to undertake our own public consultation and invite local residents to provide their feedback ahead of any planning application being submitted.”

In January, Anwyl unveiled an expansion strategy for 2022 that will include new schemes in Liverpool city region worth around £40m. It has already delivered a number of projects at locations across Merseyside and is targeting 100% turnover growth this year. This will take its annual revenues to more than £60m.