Regeneration body English Partnerships has appointed a consortium to plan a £100m regeneration project in Cheshire.
The consortium, which is led by financier Taylor Young and Amion Consulting, will draw up a strategy for a 126 ha development in the Castlefields estate, Runcorn. More than £100m of public and private investment will go into the project.

The project will focus on community and economic development as well as refurbishing and replacing housing. It will include a training programme for unemployed people and health work. The consortium aims to build 600 affordable homes and a shopping and community centre by 2010.

At the moment, the estate is a mixture of deck-access flats and bungalows. The flats had been causing urban management problems, so a demolition programme had begun.

However, clearance costs were high, which contributed to the decision to start a masterplanning exercise.

English Partnerships is working with Halton Council, Liverpool Housing Trust, CDS Housing, the Housing Corporation and the North West Development Agency.

Source

Housing Today