Freeths advises on completion of former dairy redevelopment

National law firm Freeths has advised AKM Homes on the redevelopment on a former dairy site in Runcorn into over 30 apartments, as the project reached completion on 13th March

On behalf of Halton Housing, Liverpool-based AKM Homes has this week finalised the new development, located on Sewell Street which now consists of 33 affordable apartments including 17 one-bedroom, and 16 two-bedroom flats.

Funding for the scheme was secured from Homes England and is the first delivered by AKM Homes using the Affordable Homes Programme for 2021-2026.

The Freeths team, led by Real Estate Director Mark Alexander, have been working with AKM Homes since construction started in September 2022.

Commenting on the deal, Mark Alexander said: “As a long-standing client, it’s been great to see this deal through from inception to completion which will see much-needed affordable housing brought to an empty, unused site which had become a nuisance in the locality for fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour."

“The land also had some very novel issues which would have been very difficult to overcome, had there not been such a ‘joined-up’ approach between all the parties involved in this scheme – it was a great example of everyone pulling the same direction to achieve the development of much needed modern and affordable residential accommodation in the locality. With a portfolio of well-known local clients, this deal highlights our strong regional and sector capabilities.”

Andy Walker, Managing Director of AKM added: “I am very grateful to Mark and his team for the way they managed this transaction – often having to provide innovative solutions to some of the challenges presented by this site, without which this scheme may not have come forward.”