(L-R) Torus CEO, Steve Coffey, Warrington Borough Council's Chief Executive, Prof. Steven Broomhead, Bewsey & Whitecross Councillor, Steve Wright and Lane End MD, Richard Harrison

Celebrating the completion of its largest housing development in Warrington, to date, Torus welcomed a number of dignitaries to its Academy Way site on Wednesday 21st September to showcase the town’s latest affordable housing scheme.

A £16.3 million scheme, Roebuck Plaza is the biggest investment Torus has made in a new build scheme in Warrington and will provide 144 affordable homes to local people, in a highly sought after, central location.

With all homes available via Rent to Buy, Roebuck Plaza at Academy Way will offer local people a stable, sustainable platform to get on the property ladder and own their own home, which is central to Torus’ operating model – creating great homes which allow people to thrive.

Completely transforming the disused brownfield site and a central development in supporting the Warrington Town Centre Masterplan and the town’s ambitions to receive city status, Roebuck Plaza is helping the Local Authority reach its aspirations of building more than 8,000 new homes in the town centre over the next 20 years.

Joining representatives from Torus and contractor, Lane End, Chief Executive of Warrington Council, Professor Steven Broomhead and Councillor Steve Wright, welcomed the opening of Roebuck Plaza and helped the Group mark a new chapter for Warrington town centre.

Discussing the completion of Academy Way, Torus Chief Executive and Chair of Warrington Town Deal Board, Steve Coffey, said:

“Warrington has been home to Torus for many years now and to see our largest-scale investment in a new development complete is fantastic. It is a major statement in helping to deliver the Warrington Town Centre Masterplan alongside other impressive developments such as Time Square.

“Academy Way is the largest development Torus has built in Warrington, to date, and to be able to bring over 100 new, affordable homes to the town centre is a big achievement for the whole Torus Group. This latest scheme will not only give people access to a safe, modern home but a community and a range of support from Torus Foundation and HMS, who is on hand to provide award-winning repairs and maintenance services. Academy Way is a tangible representation of our operating model and a scheme I am incredibly proud of.”

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Hitesh Patel, said:

“The opening of the Academy Way development is fantastic news for Warrington, bringing high quality, affordable homes to our town centre. It’s part of our commitment to support Warrington’s ongoing growth by delivering the right types of homes, in the right places, which meet local demand.

“We know how crucial it is that we are able to create affordable housing that is sustainable and fit for the future. Academy Way is a fantastic example of this, and testament to how we can work with partners to deliver some really fantastic schemes, on brownfield sites. I’m looking forward to the scheme giving many more people the opportunity to own their own home, within a growing, thriving community, in the heart of our town.”

Richard Harrison, Managing Director at Lane End Group, said:

“We have sailed against some challenging economic headwinds throughout this build, whilst tackling the uncertainty that the Covid-19 pandemic produced, so to achieve our objectives as we have has been a tremendous accomplishment.

“I believe that Roebuck Plaza is one of the most impressive completed buildings that Warrington has seen in recent times. The project is testimony to the investment made by Torus into the future of the new residential quarter of the town and will no doubt compliment Warrington Town Council’s vision to receive city status.”