In partnership with Knowsley Council and procurement specialist Fusion21, Bloor Homes has smashed its social value targets at its Elowen Garden Village development in Halsnead Garden Village, as part of the council’s planning obligations.
Fusion21 has been working with Knowsley Council using its Social Value Through Planning initiative to support the delivery and monitoring of social value throughout the construction phase of the development.
The collaboration between Bloor Homes, Fusion21, and Knowsley Council has delivered a range of positive outcomes for the community, achieving three headline social value outcomes in the local area including:
- 11 employment opportunities created for Knowsley residents
- Three subcontracting packages with Knowsley businesses
- Three new apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Knowsley
The 11 employment opportunities created are helping to fill key roles at Elowen Garden Village as part of the Halsnead Garden Village development, including a local National House Building Council (NHBC) inspector, ceramic tiler, groundworker, joiner, sales advisor, and six bricklayers. This has achieved the social value aim of increasing the amount of Knowsley residents working on-site at the Bloor Homes development.
What’s more, two local young people who started as apprentices on the development have now been hired as full-time bricklayers.
A primary focus of this collaboration was to create more opportunities for local residents that will lead to quality full-time employment.
Sarah Maguire, Head of Social Value at Fusion21 said: “At Fusion21, we work with local authorities and developers to ensure construction projects create meaningful, sustainable, and long-term benefits for communities.
“Through this partnership, Bloor Homes has provided jobs, apprenticeships, and opportunities that will have a lasting impact on local people and businesses in Knowsley. This is exactly the kind of positive change Knowsley Council champions through its Social Value Framework.”
James Clark, Managing Director at Bloor Homes’ North West region, said: “We are proud to have exceeded our social value targets in Knowsley, and it has been very rewarding to welcome so many local people and businesses into our team at Elowen Garden Village. We will be continuing our work experience scheme into 2025 and look forward to welcoming more young people to learn about the high standards of building we have at Bloor Homes.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic, said: “Construction of new housing at Halsnead Garden Village is not only creating much needed new homes it is also providing employment and apprenticeships for Knowsley residents and creating supply chain contracts for Knowsley businesses. Additionally, the employment site to the south of the M62 will deliver around 1,000 new jobs.
“Halsnead Garden Village is the largest combined housing and employment development in the City Region and will provide a significant boost to the local economy.”
Part of the wider Halsnead Garden Village development, Bloor Homes’ Elowen Garden Village development includes a range of three and four-bedroom homes located on Windy Arbor Road, with a sales centre open daily from 10am – 5pm.
For more information about Bloor Homes’ developments in the North West, visit bloorhomes.com
To find out more about Knowsley Council’s Social Value framework, visit www.knowsley.gov.uk
To find out more about how to unlock the potential of social value through planning visit www.fusion21.co.uk
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