City West’s Willows scheme reaches completion

Contractor Watson Homes has finished work on City West Housing Trust’s development at the former Salford rugby league ground The Willows.

Residents are now moving into the Weaste scheme following completion of the £11m build programme, which has seen the delivery of 103 houses, apartments and bungalows. In reference to the site’s history, streets on the new scheme have been named after former players, including Lance Todd Close and Gus Risman Street.

The development includes 81 homes for affordable rent and 22 properties available for shared ownership, giving local people the opportunity to take a stake of 25% upwards in a home for less than £29,000.

Colette McKune, group deputy chief executive at City West’s parent company, ForViva, said: “This project has helped transform a derelict and challenging site into a thriving community.

“At a time when demand for affordable homes outstrips supply in Salford, bringing forward new developments like The Willows that help meet local people’s housing needs is a top priority for ForViva.”

City West secured £2.75m from the Homes & Communities Agency to support the development, which started in September 2015. Local firm Grays Architecture designed the scheme.

Before the end of 2018, City West aims to deliver 780 further properties on sites across Salford, part of ForViva’s wider plans to build 1,200 properties across the North West.

This month, the landlord started work on a £3.2m apartment complex on Corporation Road in Eccles, also designed by Grays and delivered by Watson, which is set to be completed next September and will deliver 33 properties.