First homes occupied at brownfield as 360-home plan starts, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• The first six units have now been completed and handed over to their owners in Foundry Lane brownfield redevelopment site in Halebank, Widnes, marking the start of occupation on the former industrial site.
• The entire project is expected to provide 360 new homes on more than 20 acres of former industrial lands including Stobart and Tarmac sites, according to regeneration plans from Halton Borough Council.
• The initial phase includes 63 two and three-bedroom units with different tenures such as social rent and shared ownership in collaboration with Plus Dane Housing and Cityheart.
• Financing for the project includes £6.2 million investment from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority along with support from Homes England, which aims to unlock difficult brownfield sites in the region.
• Olivia Roche, development manager at Cityheart, said the completion showed the benefits of public-private partnership and explained how they overcame “significant viability challenges” to reach the current phase.
• The development team for this project includes Watson Construction as a main contractor, MM Management as an employers’ agent, and architect Corstorphine & Wright.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 21, 2026 — The first residents have moved into new homes at a major brownfield regeneration site in Halebank, Widnes, as the initial phase of a 360-home neighbourhood begins occupation following years of preparatory work on former industrial land.

What has happened at the Foundry Lane site in Widnes?

Six homes have now been formally handed over to residents at Foundry Lane, Halebank, in a milestone described by partners as the beginning of the transformation of more than 20 acres of former industrial land into a sustainable residential community. The handover, delivered in partnership between regeneration developer Cityheart and Plus Dane Housing, covers part of the first phase of the scheme, which will ultimately provide 63 two- and three-bedroom homes before further phases expand the total to 360 homes across the site.

As reported by Insider Media, the Foundry Lane regeneration is supported by funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England, forming part of wider regional efforts to unlock challenging brownfield sites and deliver new homes across the Liverpool City Region. The scheme includes a mix of tenures, with homes allocated for social rent and shared ownership, reflecting local housing needs and the strategic role of registered providers in delivery.

Who is delivering the Widnes brownfield homes and how is it funded?

Halton Borough Council’s regeneration partner, Cityheart, is leading delivery on the ground, working closely with Plus Dane Housing and main contractor Watson Construction to bring the first homes to completion. Other key members of the project team include MM Management, acting as employers’ agent, and architects Corstorphine & Wright, who have contributed to the design and technical delivery of the housing plots.

Funding for the Foundry Lane scheme includes £6.2 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, alongside support from Homes England, which has been instrumental in making complex brownfield sites viable for residential development. The Combined Authority has emphasised brownfield unlocking as a priority, with Paul Buntin recently promoted to interim director of regeneration and housing to accelerate high-quality housing delivery across the six local authorities in the city region.

What did developers and housing partners say about the Widnes handover?

Olivia Roche, development manager at Cityheart, said: “It is fantastic to see residents moving into their new homes at Foundry Lane. This development has been a testament to the strength of the public-private partnerships underpinning this regeneration. As partners we have overcome significant viability challenges to get to this stage and are excited to mark the beginning of the transformation of the site into a new community.” Her statement, carried by Insider Media, underlined the collaborative nature of the scheme and the technical and financial hurdles that had to be addressed before construction could proceed at scale.

Plus Dane Housing, as the registered provider managing allocations for social rent and shared ownership, is central to ensuring the homes meet local need and are integrated into ongoing housing strategies for Halton and the wider city region. The involvement of a registered provider also aligns with national policy directions, with the UK government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme allocating an estimated £380 million to the Liverpool City Region to support around 3,100 homes.

How does the Widnes scheme fit into wider Liverpool City Region housing plans?

The Foundry Lane project sits within a broader pipeline of housing and regeneration activity across the Liverpool City Region, where the Combined Authority and local councils are pursuing large-scale brownfield-led growth. Recent announcements indicate that the city region will receive approximately £380 million in the first wave of the government’s social and affordable homes programme, with plans to deliver around 3,100 homes supported by that funding.

In parallel, a 174-hectare area around Liverpool’s waterfront has been earmarked for up to 17,000 new homes under proposals for a new Mayoral Development Corporation, highlighting the scale of ambition for housing-led regeneration across the region. Within Halton, planning records show ongoing work to discharge conditions on the former Tarmac and Stobart sites at Foundry Lane, confirming the technical progression of the wider 360-home masterplan.

What are the next phases for the Foundry Lane regeneration in Halebank?

With the first six homes now occupied, the immediate focus shifts to completing the remainder of the first phase, which will deliver a total of 63 homes in this initial tranche. Subsequent phases are expected to expand the neighbourhood towards the full 360-home target set out in Halton Borough Council’s plans for the more than 20-acre site.

The sequencing of plots, infrastructure and landscaping will continue under the existing team, with Watson Construction remaining as main contractor and Cityheart coordinating delivery alongside the council and Plus Dane. As more homes are completed, allocations for social rent and shared ownership will proceed in line with local housing demand and the strategic objectives of the Combined Authority’s housing programme.

Background to the Foundry Lane brownfield development in Widnes

The Foundry Lane site in Halebank, Widnes, comprises former industrial land including the old Stobart and Tarmac sites, which had been identified by Halton Borough Council as a priority location for housing-led regeneration. Brownfield sites of this type often present complex viability challenges, including remediation requirements, infrastructure costs and market conditions that can deter private investment without public support.

The involvement of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England reflects a strategic approach to de-risking such sites, using grant funding and coordinated delivery to make residential schemes feasible. Planning applications and condition discharges recorded in 2026 for the former Tarmac and Stobart sites at Foundry Lane show the regulatory steps underpinning the transformation from industrial use to a mixed-tenure residential neighbourhood. The scheme also aligns with wider regional priorities to increase housing supply, improve local environments and support economic activity through construction and associated services.

Predictions: How could the Widnes brownfield homes affect local residents and the housing market?

The completion and occupation of the first homes at Foundry Lane is likely to have several effects on local residents and the wider housing market in Halton and the Liverpool City Region. For households on housing waiting lists or in temporary accommodation, the delivery of social rent and shared ownership homes provides additional routes into secure, decent housing, potentially reducing pressure on emergency accommodation and private renting.

For existing residents in Widnes and surrounding areas, the creation of a new neighbourhood on previously unused industrial land may improve local amenities, street environments and perceived safety, while also increasing the overall supply of homes in the area. Increased supply, particularly in the affordable and shared ownership segments, could moderate price growth for some property types over time, although the overall impact will depend on the pace of delivery across the full 360-home scheme and parallel developments in the borough.

From a labour market perspective, the construction activity required to deliver the remaining phases will support jobs in building trades and related services in the short term, while a larger residential population may underpin demand for local retail, schools and community services in the longer term. If the Foundry Lane model proves successful in overcoming viability barriers, it may also encourage similar brownfield-led schemes elsewhere in the Liverpool City Region, where the Combined Authority is already positioning itself to accelerate housing delivery under new leadership and expanded planning powers.