Lisa Nandy MP Visits New Affordable Housing Development in Wigan
On Friday 10 January, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, visited a new affordable housing development within her Wigan constituency, located at the former St William’s Church site in Ince.
The St William’s development, on Ince Green Lane, is an innovative collaboration between the housing association, Prima Group, and the charity, Housing People, Building Communities (HPBC). Using a sweat equity model, the project not only builds new homes but also creates a sense of community.
The site had been vacant since 2017, and in 2020, the Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese approached HPBC to repurpose the former church and presbytery for affordable housing. HPBC partnered with Prima Group to deliver 27 new homes, preserving the church's 1911 Gothic-style architecture to maintain its historic charm.
Funding and Development
Securing £1.6 million from a combination of Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority grants, Prima invested £4 million to redevelop the church and presbytery into 13 apartments and build 14 new homes on the former church grounds.
Using HPBC’s unique sweat equity model, home buyers—known as home partners—commit to 500 hours of work alongside building contractors, Holmpatrick Developments. This sweat equity translates into a £10,000 contribution towards their home deposit, helping buyers who might otherwise struggle to raise the necessary funds to enter the property market.
Lisa Nandy MP was accompanied by Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Executive Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Regeneration, and Councillor Susan Gambles, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing and Welfare.
Lisa Nandy MP said: "The development here at St William’s is inspiring, especially in these challenging times. You've respected the community, its heritage, and its people, creating opportunities and building something truly special.
“Wigan's proud legacy shines here—quality homes that value the community and its future. As the government tackles the housing crisis with a bold vision to build 1.5 million homes—the biggest house-building programme since the Second World War—this project in Wigan stands as a model: genuinely affordable housing that keeps people close to family and rooted in their communities.
“Thank you for showing what’s possible and for making a real difference."
Reverend Dr Shannon Ledbetter said: "We are deeply grateful to Lisa for helping share our story and to all our incredible partners who have come together to create a lasting community.
“Our charity’s ‘sweat equity’ model embodies hope and integrity, offering those in need a hand-up, not a handout. By contributing 500 hours of labour, home partners earn £10,000 towards their deposit, making homeownership attainable for those who might otherwise never dream of it.
“Inspired by the values of unity, support, and helping others—values championed by the late President Jimmy Carter—we're working to provide affordable, accessible homes. We are incredibly grateful to the Wigan Council for their commitment and support in enabling the charity to continue building new communities in Wigan.
“This project isn't just about housing; it's about people coming together, caring for each other, and building something beautiful. Together, we are creating a future grounded in hope, diversity, and shared purpose."
Chief Executive of Prima Group, John Ghader, added: "This is all about people, relationships, and partnerships and the shared commitment to do more.
“Home partners have worked side-by-side with the contractor building the homes they’ll live in, allowing people who might otherwise not afford a mortgage to get on the property ladder.
“With more support from lenders and government, this model has the potential to grow and have even greater economic and social impact.”
Prima Housing Group is an award-winning social landlord managing over 2,700 homes across the North West. They provide homes for families, single people, over-55s, students, key workers, and shared ownership buyers.
Prima explores future developments for various tenures, supporting their vision of ensuring customers have safe, warm, and secure places to live. They are committed to creating vibrant neighbourhoods, guided by their core mission of putting customers and communities first.
This is the second sweat equity scheme delivered by Housing People, Building Communities, following a similar 48-home redevelopment and new-build site in Liverpool.
As HPBC continues working closely with Wigan Borough Council to secure planning permission for three additional sites, the charity is poised to expand its impact further. This project demonstrates that President Carter’s vision for affordable housing and community-building remains profoundly relevant and impactful around the world.
Photos: © Clive Lawrence Photography 2025