en.Wedoany.com Reported - Preston City Council in the UK plans to build 18 homes as its first council homes in an undisclosed development in the north of the city. This decision follows the temporary suspension of the Horrocks Mill project, prompting the local government to adjust its social housing construction plans.
This will be the first new council homes built in Preston in over 20 years. The city previously sold its social housing stock to the Community Gateway Association in 2005. Last month, Preston City Council obtained registered social housing provider status and committed to investing £5 million in acquiring social housing over the next two years.
According to initial plans, the council's first council homes were to be part of the Horrocks Mill project under Onward Homes. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding in 2024, with the council planning to acquire 20 of the 380 homes in the project. However, progress on the project has been slow since planning permission was granted in 2023. The council confirmed it is still in negotiations with Onward regarding the acquisition of homes in the project.
Meanwhile, the council has begun increasing its council housing stock. On Thursday, the council reached a preliminary agreement with a developer to purchase 18 homes in a large residential development in the north of the city. These homes will be delivered in phases, with completion planned for 2028. For commercial reasons, the council did not disclose the developer or project name. Hive Land and Planning, acting as the council's professional housing advisor, provided advice on the transaction.
Nick Thompson, Director of Hive Land and Planning, called the preliminary agreement a "significant milestone," noting that re-establishing the council's status as a registered provider and securing an initial pipeline of housing stock were both important stages. Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council, stated that the council aims to advance at least one more project, delivering more new council homes through new unified arrangements to directly address homelessness and meet local housing needs.
