PLANNING permission has been granted for the first phase of almost 600 new homes to be built through a new partnership between housing developer Countryside and Knowsley Council.

The partnership will see a range of homes built on vacant land owned by the council in five locations across Knowsley.

The council’s planning committee granted permission for developments on Scotchbarn Lane in Prescot and Arncliffe Road in Halewood.

Countryside has submitted detailed plans which will be considered by the Planning Committee in the next couple of months for the other proposed developments at: Greensbridge Lane in Halewood; Roby Road in Huyton; Tower Hill in Kirkby

A total of 583 high quality new homes, ranging in size from two to five bedroomed properties, are proposed to be built across the five sites. These will include some affordable homes available to buy on a shared ownership basis.

Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, Cllr Mike Murphy, said: “I’m delighted that we are working with Countryside to regenerate different areas of Knowsley and deliver high quality housing developments. Countryside has a well-deserved reputation as one of the UK’s most successful housing developers and is precisely the calibre of partner we want to work with.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to regenerate Knowsley and improve the range of quality housing available both to existing Knowsley residents and to attract new people to choose to move into the borough.”