Residents have started to move into their new homes at the latest development in Thornton Cleveleys, where more than 200 affordable homes are being built.
The £30m 210-home scheme managed by Jigsaw Homes Group with developer Breck started on site in February 2022 and is Jigsaw’s largest grant funded development to date.
Located on Bourne Road, it will create a mix of 123 homes for affordable rent and 87 available through Rent to Buy, where people will have the ability to purchase their home after five years.
Now, more than 20 residents have been given the keys to their new home, including Carys Kirkham, a Learning Support Assistant, who moved from a privately rented property to a two-bedroom Rent to Buy home with her young son.
“I applied for a Rent to Buy home as it gets you on the property ladder. I love the area and wanted to stay nearby, so when I saw this advertised on Right Move I jumped at the chance to apply. From the suitability interview, which checks you fulfil the criteria, to moving in to my new home took just five weeks.
“The house is just perfect; it has a lovely garden for my son to play in. I have already become friends with the neighbours and one of my close friends has also just moved in. It already feels like a community and I feel really lucky to have this house.”
All affordable rent homes will be allocated via Wyre Council’s lettings system to help meet local housing need, with all Rent to Buy homes via Right Move. Each property comes with fully-fitted carpets throughout, so residents can move their furniture straight in.
When completed, there will be a mix of 81 one-bedroom apartments, 51 two-bedroom houses, 66 three-bedroom houses, 6 four-bedroom houses and 6 bungalows all constructed on the former Thornton power station site. This was built by ICI in 1995 before its eventual demolition in 2009, leaving behind a large brownfield site.
Significant remediation work was done by Breck Homes to remove contamination and existing relic foundations and prepare the ground for development.
The new housing development will include ample green spaces for residents, alongside flat, open streets, driveways for car parking and electric vehicle charging points for every property. Flood resilience measures will also be incorporated, with homes built above the flood zone in the area.
Garnet Fazackerley Operations Director for Development at Jigsaw Homes Group said: “The scheme is progressing really well and we are so pleased to be able to welcome our first new residents now that the first phase of building work has been completed. This is our largest housing development scheme yet and we are committed to making sure we deliver much-needed, affordable homes to Wyre with our partners Homes England, Breck Homes and Wyre Borough Council.
Andy Garnett, Director of Breck Homes said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with all stakeholders to deliver much needed affordable homes within the Wyre Borough. It is particularly pleasing to welcome our first residents to live in these quality new homes.
The project is projected to finish ahead of schedule which is testament to the hard work of the site team and project managers at Jigsaw.”
The development is expected to be completed in November 2025.
