Land purchase paves way for 307-home development

Miller Homes has completed the purchase of land for a new development in Rainford, on a 32-acre site off Higher Lane and Rookery Lane, for an undisclosed sum.Dial House Place, named after the nearby Dial House Wood, will include 307 houses and apartments, offering a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom properties, around a third of which are set to be affordable homes.Miller Homes’ original proposals, unveiled in May, 2022, involved plans for 337 houses on the site.Proposals were initially accepted in 2023 by St Helens Council, with Planning Committee members voting in favour of the scheme.A section 106 agreement accompanied the planning permission, which includes contributions to Mersey Travel, secondary education and NHS services. It is anticipated that the total Section 106 contributions will be upwards of £1m.It is expected that ground will break next month on the site and work will begin shortly thereafter, with the first homes forecast for completion in early 2025.Sustainability will be at the heart of Dial House Place, with new green spaces and electric vehicle charging points for every home.The development will also bring much needed new employment opportunities to the local area.John Hardy, Land Director at Miller Homes, said: “The borough of St Helens is growing and the demand for quality housing is greater than ever. It is our ambition to support the sustainable growth of Rainford by providing a mixture of stylish modern homes in a variety of policy compliant sizes and designs.”Scottish firm Miller Homes is well established in the Merseyside community, building new neighbourhoods in both Halewood and Prescot at Wilbury Park and Sonnet Gate, respectively, in the past few years.The company has also supported a number of local schools, charities and community organisations through the Miller Homes Community Fund.