Harworth Group has completed the sale of the first land parcel at its Benthall Grange development, in Shropshire, to Barratt and David Wilson Homes Mercia, for an undisclosed price.
The housebuilders intend to develop 110 houses on the nine-acre parcel as part of the first phase, offering two- to five-bedroom family homes, marketed under the David Wilson Homes brand.
Harworth secured planning for the regeneration of the former Ironbridge Power Station in September 2021, having acquired the 350-acre site in June 2018. The site will ultimately accommodate more than 1,000 homes in addition to up to 200,000 sq ft of employment space – comprising offices and light industrial units – leisure and community space.
Andrew Blackshaw, chief operating officer at Harworth, said: “The sale of our first land parcel is a major milestone for our transformative Ironbridge development, and follows extensive planning, site preparation and engagement with local stakeholders by the Harworth team. We look forward to bringing future phases to the market in the coming year and beyond.”
David Cockroft, regional director for the Midlands at Harworth, added:“Barratt and David Wilson Homes are renowned for their attractive, high-quality and sustainable developments, and we are pleased to be working with them on the first phase of Benthall Grange.
“Their development will act as a key gateway to the site, providing an early sense of place and setting the tone for the wider development. It is testament to Harworth’s vision that within just five years of acquiring a former power station with all its associated infrastructure, we are now in a position to build the first homes of a sustainable new community at the site.”
Dominic Harman, managing director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the first phase gateway quality developer for Benthall Grange and look forward to working in partnership with Harworth.
“We are well advanced with our plans on the delivery on what will be a sustainable flagship development in an exceptional, historic and highly desirable location. The Benthall Grange development will follow a history of Barratt and David Wilson Homes working with Harworth on other developments across the country.”
Construction of the first phase is expected to commence later this year, with completion of the entire development expected by 2030.
