Cheshire East to explore MADE Partnership JV for Handforth Garden Village
The local authority will look into working with the consortium, made up of Barratt Redrow, Homes England and Lloyds Banking Group, as master developer.
Members of Cheshire East’s economy & growth committee will examine the prospects for a partnership from the council side, as it looks to deliver on a masterplan of 1,500+ homes. Handforth Garden Village is allocated in the council’s Local Plan.
The project, given outline approval in 2023, also includes a new school, along with employment space and a village centre, along with extra care accommodation, a community hub and accessible green space.
MADE Partnership was launched in September last year, with an initial £150m of equity provided equally by its partners. The partnership’s mission is to be master developer on schemes of 1,000 to 10,000 homes.
If a joint venture is formed, it means the council and MADE Partnership would work together on all aspects of the Handforth Garden Village until the scheme is delivered in full.
Cllr Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its economy and growth committee, said: “The Handforth Garden Village is a complex and ambitious scheme, and is not without challenges – as you would expect with any development of this scale.
“While much more consideration is needed before an agreement is made, it is hugely positive that MADE Partnership recognises the value and importance of this scheme and is willing to work with us to explore a joint venture, which would unlock many opportunities to access further resource, expertise, and funding.
“The decision made by the economy and growth committee is a key step in the journey to realise our plans, which once delivered will provide much-needed homes and help meet new housing targets set by government.”
A final decision on whether to form a joint venture with MADE Partnership will be subject to a further committee decision at a later date.
Stephen Kinsella, board member for MADE Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cheshire East Council on such an ambitious project.
“Our amenity-led, placemaking focussed approach to delivery will ensure Handforth Garden Village becomes a place of outstanding quality that will drive economic prosperity and become home to a thriving new community within the borough.”
Cheshire East has secured Housing Infrastructure Fund support from Homes England to support the development’s upfront infrastructure, including creating a road network to enable development parcels to be accessed and the village centre to be created.
The council is the site’s majority landowner.
Is MADE the only master developer with the vision skills and capital to deliver. I believe there are others with track record too. Public procurement? Has the proposed Engine of the North gone kaput or did they find they had no fuel
By Anonymous
Great, more Redrow houses. Already building over 800 just down the road at Woodford. So much for diversity in development!
By Anonymous
So another large PLC gets all the land, what happened to supporting SME housebuilders?
By Anonymous
how long does it take to get on site ? Sell a package and open the site up with infrastructure from the proceeds
By TJL
It’s great to see all these homes being built in a desirable location, I just hope they expand Handforth Dean to the north with several new shops and outlets to help support the new population.
By MC