Breck Homes has started construction of 34 new social homes at the former Boundary pub site in Liverpool, for not-for-profit housing association Torus.
The development, on Pilch Lane in the Roby area of the city, will feature 34 one to three-bedroom homes all available for social rent.
The highly efficient new properties will be heated by an air source heat pump, removing the need for gas boilers and reliance on fossil fuels. In addition, each new home will also feature an electric vehicle (EV) charging point.
The Boundary pub was demolished in 2011. The site was then subject to several unsuccessful planning applications before Breck acquired the land unconditionally in 2025 and secured planning approval from Knowsley Council in March 2026.
The scheme is expected to be completed by late spring 2028.
Phil Dolan, managing director – North West, Breck Homes, said: “Starting construction at Pilch Lane means we are now actively building on 12 live sites in the North West, increasing to 14 before the end of the calendar year.
“At Breck Homes, we are committed to building hundreds of much-needed social and affordable homes each year and transforming communities across the entire North West region. Our development pipeline spans Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
“There is significant demand for social housing in Liverpool, and this development will help to address that need, bringing a derelict brownfield site back into use by creating new homes for local people and families.
“Pilch Lane is one of seven developments in our Merseyside pipeline, which underlines our commitment to working in partnership with housing associations and local authorities to make a lasting positive impact on the region. We are pleased to be working alongside Torus to deliver another community that residents can be proud of.”
Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby, visited the site on Friday (October 16) alongside Phil Dolan and Chris Bowen, managing director of Torus Developments, to mark the start of construction.
Ian Byrne said: “There is a desperate need for social housing across Liverpool, with more than 14,000 households on the council’s housing waiting list, including a growing need in the West Derby area.
“Over the next decade, our government has committed to injecting £39bn into the sector nationally to address this increased demand. The development of new high-quality social homes in well-connected areas will be vital to this, and the Pilch Lane development is a real blueprint for how we can regenerate our communities through transforming derelict brownfield sites.
“It’s fantastic to see Breck Homes and Torus working in partnership to deliver this scheme, which will also create local employment opportunities throughout the construction process. I’m looking forward to seeing it progress over the coming months.”
Managing Director of Torus Developments, Chris Bowen, said: “There is huge demand for affordable housing across Merseyside so this scheme will make a big difference especially as all the homes are being offered at Social Rent.
“Many people are really struggling financially but this tenure type will really help them as it is around half the price of private rents in the area. The energy efficiency measures will also play a big role helping tenants reduce their fuel bills.
“This development epitomises what we stand for. As a not-for-profit organisation, we reinvest all our profits into new and existing homes as well as helping improve people’s lives by developing their skills, finding them work and including them in the community.”
Founded in Lancashire in 2020, Breck Homes now has a development pipeline of more than 2,200 affordable homes across the North of England.