Tawd Valley Developments begins 45-home Skem project
Construction on phase one of the council-owned vehicle’s Digmoor scheme in Skelmersdale has started.
This initial phase will see a new block of 12 apartments for social rent delivered on cleared land in Blythewood.
Phase two will include the demolition of flats and bedsits described by West Lancs Council as dated, replaced with new apartments and houses.
Tawd Valley Developments will deliver the whole scheme, with this phase securing £1.1m of grant funding from Homes England.
John McCall Architects designed the development, which will be built by Widnes contractor Whitfield & Brown. ARP is the eingineer, with Ridge providing employer’s agent services.
Cllr Nicola Pryce-Roberts, lead member for housing at the local authority, said: “It is exciting to have broken ground on the first phase of this forward-thinking housing project.
“It is set to transform and regenerate Blythewood and Banksbarn, using cutting-edge construction methods and eco-friendly materials.
“There is an increasing need for new, good quality affordable homes in West Lancashire and projects like Digmoor continue to help us to transform our housing stock to meet the needs of current and future residents.
“These affordable apartments will provide a modern and sustainable home for our residents to enjoy.”
Built of a timber frame construction, the homes include air source heat pumps, EV charging points and are partly triple-glazed, with solar panels powering communal areas.
The 12 apartments will be made up of nine one- bedroom and three two bedroom homes. The ground floor apartments providing full level access with wet rooms.
Construction of phase one is scheduled to take around 12 months to complete. The scheme as a whole will be 100% affordable, and owned and managed by the council.
Danielle Ashworth, director of development at Tawd Valley Developments, added: “TVD is pleased to be supporting the Council with this important regeneration project providing new energy efficient homes for those most in housing need.
“Phase one has now commenced and TVD, working closely with the Council, is looking forward to the delivery of phase two in the not-too-distant future.”
The project as a whole is inked in for completion by June 2028.
