Affordable homes and over 55s communal living plans for derelict housing site near Lancaster

The end may be in sight for a development site in Halton that has remained unfinished for over a decade.

Proposals by two community led housing projects have been put forward to finish off the Halton Mills development site on Mill Lane in Halton, parts of which have remained derelict since 2008 when developer Time and Tide homes went into administration.

Lune Valley Community Land Trust and Halton Senior Cohousing project are planning to complete the scheme with proposals to build affordable homes for local people and a housing scheme with communal facilities for over 55s.

Project Manager for the Senior Cohousing project, Chris Coates, said: “The unfinished sites have been something of an eyesore for the past ten years.

"We hope that these two schemes will improve the area and offer some much needed housing aimed at local people.”

The two community housing groups are currently carrying out a community consultation exercise and invite anyone to comment on their proposals.

Details of the proposals can be found online.

The Lune Valley Community Land Trust proposal is HERE, and the Halton Senior Cohousing Proposal is HERE.Lune Valley Community Land Trust and partners, South Lakes Housing Association are proposing 20 new affordable homes of mixed tenure on derelict land between Forge Lane and Mill Lane.

It said: "We are proposing 20 new homes, all designed around a new street space.

"The homes are designed to the latest standards for a robust and long life.

"They have been designed to fit around the existing properties (maintaining privacy) and we propose to keep all of the protected trees.

"In the heart of the new development is a car free community space, overlooked by all of the new homes this forms a new public space and a pedestrian connection from Mill Lane to Forge Lane.

"The houses will be for shared ownership and affordable rent, to increase the number of affordable homes in the area.

"They will be managed by South Lakes Housing Association.

"These new homes will be designed to the international Passivhaus energy standard, this means they have been designed carefully to minimise the energy they use, have excellent indoor air quality and have good quality components."

The Halton Senior Co-Housing project is an extension of Lancaster Co-housing, which is located on a nearby site.

It said: "Each household is personal and private but residents come together to manage their community and share activities.

"It is an opportunity to step back in time to when everyone knew their neighbours and had the support of the local village.

"But we will be modern in the sense that our Passiv Haus construction is an environmentally friendly way to keep warm and dry without costing the earth."

Anyone aged 55 or over and interested in the proposal can contact [email protected].