Housebuilder Persimmon submits plans for 220 new Liverpool city region homes in multi-million pound development that will include solar panels and heat pumps. Tony McDonough reports

Housebuilder Persimmon is to build 220 new homes in the Garswood area of St Helens.
Persimmon has submitted a planning application to St Helens Council for the development. It will comprise a variety of home types including bungalows, terraced, semi-detached, detached, and apartments.
It has worked with planning and development consultancy Lichfields on the scheme. The range of new homes has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the local housing market – ranging from one to five-bedroom.
This project includes proposals for 33 properties to be offered as shared ownership or First Homes and a further 33 offered as affordable rent. And affordable rent is no more than 80% of the local market rate.
And Persimmon will also make contributions to Merseytravel for upgrades to the Garswood Station, alongside contributions to local healthcare and education. Around seven acres of public open space will be provided.
It says the scheme will have a biodiversity net gain of 10% and 488 new trees are to be planted, alongside 394 metres of new native hedgerows.
Each of the new homes will be “zero carbon ready” and benefit from improved energy efficiency. All homes will be fitted with electric vehicle chargers, PV panels and air-source heat pumps. A public consultation has taken place.
READ MORE: Family firms have the edge, says Liverpool building firm boss
READ MORE: Window firm Warwick to accelerate social value in 2025
Chris Kershaw, development director at Persimmon North West, said: “The proposed development would provide a wide range of high-quality, energy efficient homes, with something available for all buyers at prices people can afford.
““We look forward to continuing our work with St Helens Borough Council as we progress the application through the planning system.”