Long-awaited work is set to resume on a £41m affordable homes scheme in Helsby which stalled when the contractor building it collapsed.

Work stopped at two adjacent housing plots in Chester Road after Warrington-based Lane End Developments Construction Ltd entered administration 12 months ago.

Now Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury has been informed by housing association Onward Homes that it has hired Countryside Partnerships to complete its 100 per cent affordable housing project.

Supported by a grant from Homes England, the 215-dwelling scheme of two, three and four-bed homes for shared ownership and affordable rent will be developed in line with current planning consent.

Lane End had also been building out a 118-homes development on the former site of Helsby Sports and Social Club with partners Laurus Homes, an arm of the L&Q housing association.

Largely funded by the housing project, the sports club moved to a new state-of-the-art facility off nearby Callender Way in 2021. L&Q is also seeking to appoint a new contractor to finish its homes.

Mike Amesbury MP, who said he had liaised with both housing associations throughout, said: "It’s good news that we’re finally seeing progress. It was a crying shame when the previous contractor went into administration. The country needs housing, particularly affordable housing."

He added: "There has been understandable concern about this abandoned building site creating a negative impression of the area. Well, residents should start to see work resuming in the near future and let’s hope there will soon be positive news about the L&Q part of the development.”

Onward originally touted the Helsby scheme as a £41 million project. But its 2023 annual report revealed the collapse of Lane End resulted in a £3.5m impairment relating to increased anticipated costs to complete this and another impacted scheme at Basford, near Crewe.