A DEVELOPMENT of 140 new homes in Prescot has been awarded planning permission from Knowsley Council.

The Countryside development at Prescot Park will include apartments and three and four bedroom houses.

The homes are being built on behalf of Sigma Capital Group and will be available for private rent under Sigma’s Simple Life PRS brand.

This is the fourth residential development that has been granted planning approval on the brownfield site, formerly occupied by Prysmian Cables and Systems, which will eventually host more than 700 new homes.

Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes and Anwyl Homes have started construction.

John Flaherty, executive director (Place) at Knowsley Council, said: “This development supports the council’s plans and vision to increase the choice and availability of high quality housing in the area whilst strengthening the sustainability of the town centre.

“Countryside are already building in other areas of Knowsley with those developments proving to be very popular and I am confident this one will be too."

Mark Hadfield, regional operations director at Countryside said: “We are looking forward to starting work on transforming this brownfield site into a thriving community, as we have done successfully with our other seven developments within the borough.

"This opportunity will see the further extension of our close working relationships with Knowsley Council and Sigma Capital Group to bring the community quality new homes that are accessible to all.

"The Countryside distinction is something that as a home builder we pride ourselves on; creating places people love, with unrivalled specification, attention to design detail and above all placing the customer at the heart of everything we do.”

Construction of the new homes is expected to start imminently with the first homes being available to rent towards the end of the year.