Halton Housing welcomed the new Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council (HBC), Andrew Donaldson and colleague Nicki Goodwin on a tour of key development and regeneration sites across Widnes and Runcorn yesterday, highlighting our ongoing investment in new homes, community support and place-making across the borough. 

The visit began at Waterfront Point before taking in a range of neighbourhoods and strategic projects that demonstrate our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes and supporting our thriving communities. 

One of the first stops on the tour was Crow Wood Gardens in Widnes, a new supported living scheme designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. The development will provide 13 homes in total, including 10 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom bungalows. It marks a significant milestone for Halton Housing as its first scheme to combine purpose-built bungalows with ‘own front door’ apartments in a single, integrated supported living service. Residents will benefit from modern, accessible design and on-site care and support services, enabling them to live independently for longer. The scheme has secured £1.4 million in Homes England funding alongside £250,000 from HBC, and is due for completion in Autumn 2026. 

The tour through the town centre of Widnes also highlighted our strong presence and involvement in the newly formed Widnes Strategic Board, which aims to position the town centre as a destination for residents, businesses and visitors. 

In Runcorn, the visit focused on major regeneration activity underway as part of the wider “Reconnecting Runcorn” programme, which secured £23.6 million from the Government’s Towns Fund. Halton Housing has been a central partner in this work, contributing to a programme of projects aimed at improving transport, housing, employment opportunities and the public realm across the town. 

The tour included a stop at our over 55s independent living scheme ‘Mercia Place’ currently in development, and the Runcorn Waterfront area, where Halton Housing and HBC are working together to bring forward a long-term vision for new homes and housing renewal in a prominent riverside setting. 

As we continue to deliver against local priorities, including the borough’s Housing Strategy, the projects highlighted during the tour demonstrate both the scale of ambition and the real progress being made on the ground, across Halton. 

Andrew Donaldson was appointed as new Chief Executive of HBC in December, and this visit provided an opportunity to embed and strengthen the long and rich partnership between HBC and Halton Housing, spanning decades.