Halsnead Garden Village – the Liverpool City Region’s largest combined housing and employment development – is to create hundreds of new affordable homes.

A report, supported by Knowsley Council’s Planning Committee has detailed how significant numbers of affordable homes will be delivered within the Halsnead Garden Village development itself and across the wider Borough.

Developer contributions will now be secured from housebuilders Bloor Homes and Taylor Wimpey to help fund new affordable homes across the wider borough and support the Council’s Affordable Housing Access Fund.

Outline planning permission has recently been granted by Knowsley Council to Your Housing Group for a 100% affordable housing scheme of up to 377 new homes within the Garden Village development. This portion of the development alone would equate to 23.6% of all 1,600 homes proposed at Halsnead Garden Village.

Further to this Liverpool-based Registered Social Landlord Torus has acquired 18 units within the Bloor Homes section of the development, while Onward Homes are currently developing 42 affordable homes at Windy Arbor Brow.

Knowsley’s Planning Committee has agreed for a combined sum of £3.614m from developers Bloor and Taylor Wimpey be used to fund affordable housing in other areas of Knowsley, rather than on their respective developments within the Garden Village.

This includes a £2.2m contribution from Bloor Homes, who are delivering 331 new homes at Halsnead Garden Village, and a £1.414m contribution from Taylor Wimpey who have planning permission for 350 homes within the Garden Village.

The contributions will be put towards the Council’s Affordable Housing Access Fund, providing support for affordable housing developments and a private sector rescue scheme.

You can find more detail about the Affordable Housing Access Fund within the planning report.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The Halsnead Garden Village development will benefit residents across Knowsley and the wider region.  We forecast that over 25% of homes at the Garden Village will be affordable and in addition we have now secured contributions from developers that will also help support much-needed affordable provision across the wider borough as well.”

Once complete the Halsnead Garden Village development will deliver approximately 1,600 new homes and at least 22.5 hectares of employment land, 33 hectares of new greenspace and a new 28 hectare Country Park.