Residents have already started to move in to new homes in Runcorn after a three year regeneration project has been completed.

Woodland Walk, Runcorn, has been transformed from a 1960's eyesore thanks to a £10m investment from Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT), part of Symphony Housing Group, and £4.5m of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

In total, 98 homes have been built, including 58 two bedroom flats, 19 two and three bedroom houses for rent – as well as 21 Shared Ownership homes.


Since work began in 2010, more than 240 deck access flats were demolished as they were not fit for purpose.

In October 2011, residents from the remaining old blocks were given priority to move into the 18 new flats that were constructed on empty land near to Woodland Walk.

Once the demolition of the grey, concrete blocks of flats had been completed, work began in Spring 2012 on building 21 new homes for shared ownership and reservations had been placed on many properties by the new year.

The following six months saw the completion of the remaining 59 homes for rent.

The transformation of Woodland Walk is captured in two pictures taken in March 2011, shortly before demolition began, and subsequently in July 2013 following completion of the new homes.

The redevelopment of Woodland Walk and its two spine blocks have not only removed an imposing blight on the local landscape; it has improved Castlefields neighbourhood for new and existing residents.

(CD/JP)