Knowsley Council agrees proposals for 360 new garden village homes

Knowsley Council’s Planning Committee has approved a multi million pound proposal (July 10) to build up to 360 new family homes in Whiston.

The development at Halsnead Garden Village is a major project for Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region in terms of economic recovery after coronavirus.

Proposals will also see an injection of approximately £3.2m into local services following legal agreements between the Council and developer.

These will include £1.27m to increase primary school capacity, £1.06m for green spaces on site, £400,000 for more nursery and early years’ childcare provision and £210,000 for outdoor sports provision.

Social Value contributions have also been considered, with improvements to drainage and jobs for the local workforce and local supply chain to ensure the project contributes to the area.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council Cabinet member for Regeneration & Economic Development said:

“I am delighted that the first application has now been approved and that work can move ahead on this crucially important development. Halsnead Garden Village will bring more than just new homes to Knowsley. It will create local jobs, bring in major investment and thanks to the agreements we have reached with Bloor Homes it will also result in a huge injection of funding into local services and amenities – something that comes at a time when local finances are incredibly stretched due to Covid 19.

“With any new housing application people can often, understandably, be concerned about the impact on GPs, traffic, schools etc. This permission however comes with a guarantee from the developer to adequately fund those local services that are so important. And that is on top of the £12 million we have already secured from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to improve connectivity and infrastructure around and into the site.”

Highly-skilled and well-paid employment in the logistics and advanced manufacturing sectors will also benefit from this development.