CHESHIRE West and Chester Council says housing developments in Winsford are set to propel the council to one of the leading housing developers in the north west for the next two years.

The council has started an ambitious housing and regeneration plan outlined in their Housing Strategy where more than 500 new affordable homes will be completed in the next two years.

Sites in Woodford Lodge and Leaf Lane, Winsford, are among the developments providing the new affordable homes.

Winsford has 90 homes planned using a Land Lease arrangement, 30 of which will be affordable units which are to be let on behalf of the council. Cllr Angela Claydon, cabinet member for housing, said: “Our vision for housing is to deliver homes of the right type, quality and cost in the right locations in line with the current and future needs of the population to ensure west Cheshire remains an attractive location to live and help ease affordability pressures”.

To build on the success, the council is now proposing to create a Housing Investment Model. This will operate by working in partnership with housing developers, who, instead of paying a capital receipt for the land, gift units to the council generating income for the local authority.

A council spokesman said: “Ambitious plans are set to deliver around 900 sustainable mixed use units spread across five different tenure types which include around 500 units for sale and around 100 Starter Homes built and sold by developers, plus around 300 affordable rent and shared ownership built on behalf of the council.

“The 300 affordable homes, which deliver a ground rent income to the Council, will be managed through a lease with a Registered Provider.

“The market units would be largely delivered by the developer and will be covenanted to be sold on a freehold not a leasehold basis.

“The recommendations will enable the development of the sites to be progressed through the Housing Delivery Model. As each individual site is considered to be brought forward for development appropriate consultations will take place.”

The Council is one of the first boroughs to be appointed as ‘Homes and Communities Agent’ partner to unlock key sites to facilitate regeneration through the development of discounted starter homes for sale.

The proposal is to release the Phoenix Depot site in Winsford by relocating two council service providers and free up the site for residential development.