The Homes and Communities Agency has invested £20m through the Affordable Homes Programme as part of the deal that will see 905 homes built for families across Greater Manchester and Merseyside by March 2015.

Consortium members include New Charter Housing Trust, Eastland Homes Partnership, Helena Partnerships, Liverpool Mutual Homes, Parkway Green Housing Trust, Trafford Housing Trust, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Willow Park Housing Trust.

Of the 905 homes, 744 will be made available at affordable rent rates and 161 will be shared ownership units.

Trafford Housing Trust’s Calder Court scheme is expected to be the first development with work due to start in January 2012 and completed towards the end of 2013.

JV North Chairman and Helena Partnerships’ Chief Executive, Rob Young, said: “JV North has a proven track record of delivering high quality social housing and the HCA grant provides us with another opportunity to develop housing in the North West and cater for the high demand in the region.

“The next four years will see JV North members building modern, energy efficient homes for local people and the Affordable Homes programme will also allow us to extend the range of tenancy options making housing available to more people in our communities.

“The homes will be offered to new tenants at affordable rent rates and being able to offer more shared ownership homes will play a crucial role in helping people get a foot on the housing ladder.”