Heywood acquisition marks Anwyl's expansion into Greater Manchester

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The 15 acre site on Manchester Road, Heywood next to the Birch Hotel

Anwyl Homes Lancashire is poised to start work on its first site in Greater Manchester following the acquisition of land in Heywood.

The Chorley-based housebuilder has acquired almost 15 acres on Manchester Road, near to The Birch Hotel and the new M62 link road.

Detailed plans for 120 homes together with extensive open space areas have been approved by Rochdale Borough Council, with ground works expected to start immediately.

John Grime, managing director for Anwyl Homes Lancashire, said: “We’re very excited to have secured our first development in Greater Manchester, which is a major advance for our business.

“Anwyl’s Lancashire region has been active for five years and, until now, our main areas of operation have been central and west Lancashire, plus parts of Merseyside. Now we are very much looking forward to introducing our thoughtfully designed family homes to the residents of Heywood.”

The Heywood site has been purchased from Russell Homes and forms part of a wider site which will eventually comprise around 1,000 new homes, plus 1.5 million square feet of employment space, a local centre, new primary school, extensive public open space and sports pitches.

As part of its share, Anwyl will make community contributions worth almost £5.5m towards education, transport, highways, green spaces and sports pitches. This includes over £2.7 million towards the cost of the new link road to junction 19 of the M62 which is under construction and due to complete next month.

Anwyl’s development will feature three, four and five-bedroom mews, semi-detached and detached homes. There will be bespoke house designs and elevations, with features including taller windows, steeper roof pitches with slate-grey tiles, feature chimneys and brickwork, and grey doors and windows.

The first homes are due to be released for sale in spring 2023, with the first residents expected to move in during the summer.

John added: “We acquired our first site in Prescot, Merseyside, in 2017. From that standing start, we will complete around 275 new homes in this financial year and are targeted to build more than 400 new homes annually by 2024. The Heywood site is the 12th acquisition and the first within Greater Manchester. It will be delivered over three years and make a significant contribution to that 2024 target and beyond.”