strategic approach

St Williams Church

Client

HPBC (Housing People Building Communities) & PRIMA

Location

Ince, Wigan, UK

Project Type

Residential

For the St Williams Church Development, Millson Group worked in close partnership with HPBC (Housing People Building Communities), a charity developer dedicated to making home ownership a reality for more people. HPBC's innovative "sweat equity" initiative gives homebuyers the opportunity to earn £10,000 towards their mortgage deposit by volunteering 500 hours to help build their own homes — significantly lowering the barrier to getting onto the property ladder for first-time buyers.

Strategic Approach

The development of surplus land for family housing generated essential revenue, enabling the cross-subsidisation of the complex conversion works and ensuring the overall viability of the scheme. As a result, a carefully considered and sensitive design approach has delivered a highly successful transformation, preserving and revitalising these distinctive buildings, which have long contributed to the character and identity of the local landscape.

Results and Effect

The development of surplus land for family housing generated essential revenue, enabling the cross-subsidisation of the complex conversion works and securing the overall viability of the scheme. Delivered in partnership with HPBC, the project has ensured that these important landmark buildings remain in active use, continuing to serve the local community in a renewed form. The result is a multi-award-winning development that combines a sensitive and carefully detailed conversion with new-build elements, creating a distinctive mix of eclectic apartments and compact family homes. Targeted towards first-time buyers, the scheme is further distinguished by HPBC’s innovative “Sweat Equity” model, allowing purchasers to contribute their time on site in exchange for building their deposit—broadening access to home ownership while reinforcing a strong sense of community investment.