A new housing development in the Wirral has been officially opened.
New homes in the Wirral
Darcy Court in Port Sunlight has been developed by leading housing and care provider Sanctuary Group.
The £6.5m affordable housing scheme, which includes 43 two-bed and 15 one-bed apartments for rent, has been built on land formerly occupied by industrial buildings on Wharf Street and will help regenerate this corner of the village.
History of Port Sunlight
The village of Port Sunlight was created by William Lever in the late 1800s to house workers at his nearby soap works. It was designated as a Conservation Area in 1978 and is recognised both locally and further afield as being of major historical significance in terms of its town planning, its public spaces and its public buildings, many of which are Grade II listed.
An event saw Darcy Court opened by Maggie Sparks, the Chair of Port Sunlight Village Trust, who was given a tour of one of the residents’ apartments.
Maggie said: “It’s very important to us to conserve the outstanding heritage and beauty of Port Sunlight. Sanctuary’s plan to develop Darcy Court to be in keeping with the rest of the village buildings is doing just that.
“We hope that our residents enjoy their new homes and continue to appreciate the quality of life of this important village.”
Mark Birkin, development manager for Sanctuary, commented: “This development has completely transformed the former factory site yet continues to be in keeping with the nearby architecture, complementing other buildings in the village.
“We are very proud of the opportunities Darcy Court has provided for the local community. Not only is it delivering much-needed affordable homes, particularly benefiting older residents looking to downsize, but has also offered excellent job and training opportunities for local young people.”
Built by Sanctuary’s appointed contractor Seddon, the development benefited from funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and Wirral Borough Council.
As part of Sanctuary’s commitment to creating employment and training opportunities in the local community, six apprentices and one trainee were supported on the project, providing skills such as plumbing, plastering, painting and electrical.
