A CHESHIRE town is set to get scores of new rental homes after a deal was signed to acquire properties on a housing estate currently under construction.

Rental firm Placefirst will take on 76 properties from Miller Homes, which is building the Lunts Heath rise development in Widnes.

The new estate will comprise a total of 328 properties, most of which will be made available for private sale.  But the new deal will see Placefirst - which also operates the Welsh Streets development in Liverpool - own and operate a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes which will be made available for rent once construction is completed in Spring, 2026.

David Mawson, CEO of Placefirst, said: "With the demand for housing continuing to grow, expanding supply is crucial in order to support the region’s communities.

"Through close collaboration with partners such as Miller Homes, we will continue to address the UK’s lack of quality housing, delivering professionally maintained homes in the right locations to offer residents the security they need."

The firm said the addition of the new houses represented a step towards 'easing the housing shortage in Cheshire'.

Danny O’Connor, divisional managing director at Miller Homes, added: "We look forward to providing high quality and sustainable homes at our Lunts Heath Rise development, and investing in the neighbourhood to ensure that the community we help build, and the people living in it, can grow and prosper."

Established in 2010, Placefirst is a build-to-rent developer and regeneration firm, with a growing portfolio of over 1,500 homes throughout the UK including The Welsh Streets development in Liverpool, an award-winning neighbourhood with a mix of one to five bed refurbished properties and new build homes to rent from £850pm.

Matthew Bench, Group Managing Director – Partnerships at Miller Homes, added: “Building private rented sector homes as part of our business model, like these for Placefirst, allows us to continue diversifying our portfolio, while creating new opportunities for land acquisition and supporting our overall growth ambitions."