KNOWSLEY Housing Trust (KHT) has appointed a Birkenhead social housing builder to deliver a new £1.9m scheme.

The trust, part of the First Ark Group, has awarded the project to Lovell, part of the Morgan Sindall group.

Its development will create 21 homes for social rent in Halewood.

It will comprise 14 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and seven bungalows in Penmann Crescent.

Five of the new homes will have solar photovoltaic roof panels which will generate 10% of the energy requirements for the development.

Two of the bungalows have been designed for residents who use wheelchairs. Maisonettes and garages which previously occupied the site have been demolished.

The development is set to be completed in autumn 2013.

Lovell, which is a member of Knowsley Housing Trust’s contractor framework, was awarded the contract through a competitive tendering process.

Nigel Yates, Lovell regional director, said: “We are extremely pleased to be using our expertise in new-build affordable housing to work on this, our first contract for Knowsley Housing Trust.

“We are working very closely with KHT to create these modern, energy-efficient, affordable homes.”

KHT’s executive director of asset management, Ian Thomson, added: “This project will help deliver our promise to build 400 new homes in Knowsley over the next five years and will provide much needed housing for the residents of Halewood.”