PROGRESS is being made on the development of a five-storey 130-apartment complex for over 55s in Fingerpost.

Representatives from housing group Torus visited the site recently to check on the latest developments at the site.

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The giant superstructure, constructed from 540 tonnes of steel, is now fully complete and, thanks to a 130-tonne mega crane, work is underway to install a whopping 2,762 tonnes of concrete flooring.

The £13m purpose-built development is designed to cater to the changing needs of older people, providing specialist support both for those who need it now and those who may develop a need for support over time.

The state-of-the art facility is one of several developments from Torus, that will have a positive impact on Fingerpost, says the housing group.

Back in 2015, Torus developed more than 30 new homes for affordable rent and shared ownership (part buy/part rent) on Park Road, Fingerpost and this week will see the handover of a further 26 new homes on Park Road, followed by 66 on Holly Bank.

Each of these former brownfield sites had been neglected for many years, causing a blight to the neighbourhoods.

Torus says the regenerations are not just about transforming place but providing people with access to greater opportunities for employment and training along with access to services that will improve health and wellbeing.

This particular area is the focus of the newly established Torus Foundation, a charity which partners with people and partners to devise and deliver local-led initiatives that have a positive impact on peoples’ lives.

Torus says this ensures that people don’t just benefit from a home but also get access to a network of service and support too.

Torus director of development, Bill Lacey, said: “Our new build development sites in Fingerpost reflect our commitment to invest in Fingerpost and the wider St Helens borough.

“We have exciting plans for new developments across St Helens, with schemes in the pipeline to provide new homes for a wide range of people from first time buyers to elderly people with care needs.

“Our aim is to produce high quality homes that will meet the needs of our communities in St. Helens and make a real difference to peoples’ lives as well as contributing to the regeneration of the town.”

Torus, which owns and manages around 40,000 homes across Merseyside and Cheshire, has deep roots in St Helens where it has already developed more than 500 new homes with an investment value in the region of £39m.

Working closely with the local authority, to ensure that any new housing reflects local demand, Torus says it is committed to providing truly affordable homes for rent and low-cost home ownership across the borough with a real emphasis on reviving neighbourhoods by investing in areas that will most benefit from regeneration.