It’s been a busy 12 months since Torus – a partnership between Warrington’s Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and St Helens based Helena Partnerships launched onto the NW housing scene.
Widespread Government changes to the welfare system and social housing policy hit at a time when the new group was aligning two separate businesses. But it’s a challenge that the fledgling group has met in typical head on fashion.
Group chief executive Rob Young comments: “We created Torus with the vision of creating something stronger, more agile and more efficient for the future.
The process of transforming services and systems to make efficiencies was well underway before Government changes to social housing policy emerged. We’re leaner, stronger and becoming increasingly fit for the future.”
With a commitment to providing much needed affordable homes but a diminishing pot of grant funding, Torus is actively identifying new income streams to subsidise these new homes.
In the past 12 months Torus has begun the delivery of 180 new homes in Warrington and St Helens. This includes new homes and apartments on the site of the former Mississippi Showboat nightclub and three bedroom homes in Orford.
The company is currently onsite developing 104 affordable homes in Latchford.
The £10 million redevelopment of a disused tannery will house 64 two and three bedroom homes for affordable rent and a further 40 two and three bedroom homes for sale through shared ownership. Phase one is due for release in September this year.
The construction of 24 bungalows and two bedroom homes and two retail units, is also due to commence at Harrison Square in Bewsey.
The development will replace a number of disused shops and is part of a wider regeneration programme spearheaded by Warrington Borough Council in Bewsey and Dallam.
Rob Young adds: “With so many private developers building homes for rent and sale in Warrington, you might think that housing supply isn’t an issue, but that’s not the case.
“The reality is that many, many people still cannot access an affordable, good quality home. That’s an issue we’re working hard to address.”
Torus plans to build a minimum of 1,200 affordable homes in the region over the next four years. This, alongside other activity, will inject around £128m into the local economy, create jobs and improve prosperity in the region.
