A 195-home canalside development has been completed that is helping drive a renaissance around Liverpool’s Northern Docks.

Hartley Locks is a £65 million rent to buy scheme in Lightbody Street by housing association Torus.

Made up of 185 apartments and ten townhouses, it has transformed the grade II listed Stanley Flight Canal Locks and been the catalyst for regeneration of the post-industrial dockland area.

Since Torus announced Hartley Locks, Everton FC’s new stadium in Bramley Moore Dock has been built and a former tobacco warehouse is being converted into 538 apartments.

Other residential developments are planned and a host of creative businesses, cafes and bars have also made the area their home with numbers continuing to grow.

Torus Group Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said:

“Hartley Locks is a landmark development that meets overwhelming demand for high-quality housing in North Liverpool and lets people take their first step on the property ladder.

“It has paved the way for wider regeneration nearby giving others confidence to invest and this will only increase now construction work has completed and people are living there.

“We have a lot of existing homes in the vicinity and our new partnership with Liverpool City Council to accelerate place-based, housing-led regeneration in North Liverpool will really see us transform affordable housing options in the area.”

Funding for the scheme saw Torus invest £55.2 million, Homes England provide a £6.8 million grant and £2.9 million from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Brownfield Land fund.

Torus took an innovative approach to sustainability making Hartley Locks the first residential scheme to connect to Mersey Heat’s district heating network which is powered by the UK’s largest water source heat pump in the adjacent Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

It provides heating and hot water for all the properties resulting in a 78% carbon saving compared to a conventional gas supply.

Each apartment will save 291kg of CO2 every year, giving tenants chance to lower their fuel bills. Other environmental measures include blue-roof rainwater attenuation, electric vehicle chargers, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, 210 cycle spaces, sedum landscaping and bird and bat boxes.

Properties are of an exceptional standard with balconies giving tenants breathtaking views of the River Mersey, cityscape, cathedrals, football stadiums and sunsets.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:

“This is exactly the kind of high‑quality, forward‑looking development our city needs.

“Hartley Locks demonstrates how ambitious housing delivery and cutting‑edge sustainability can go hand in hand.

“Connecting homes to the UK’s largest water‑source heat pump and Mersey Heat’s network will cut carbon and future‑proof these neighbourhoods.

“The sensitive restoration of the Stanley Flight Canal Locks, the creation of new commercial space and the jobs this brings show regeneration that respects our heritage while unlocking real opportunity.

“We welcome Torus’s investment and the strong partnership with Homes England and the Liverpool City Region. Together we will continue to drive housing‑led renewal so people can live affordably, sustainably and close to the services and jobs they need.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

"Hartley Locks is a fantastic example of the kind of transformational regeneration we are delivering across our region – building the high-quality, affordable homes that local people need, while leading the way in cutting-edge green technology.

“I’m delighted we could help towards funding this development. By doing so, we’re not only breathing new life into a historic part of North Liverpool, but also supporting jobs, investment and opportunity for years to come.”

Hartley Locks saw the refurbishment of a row of railway arches for commercial use, which is anticipated to create employment opportunities.

The constrained derelict brownfield site was incredibly complicated to develop.

The listed canal basin underneath Hartley Locks dates back to 1848 and saw Torus’s appointed contractor, Eric Wright Construction, create a temporary dam by piledriving a 21-metre steel sheet into the bed of the grade II listed basin so it could be drained allowing foundations to be laid.

Using a floating pontoon, the original masonry and brickwork of the canal basin was repaired and repointed and the original sandstone boundary wall reinstated.

James Eager, Eric Wright Construction Director, said:

“We are proud to deliver this landmark residential development for Torus in the heart of Liverpool. The successful completion of Hartley Locks, Lightbody Street is testament to the dedication, skill and collaborative spirit of everyone involved.

“Building next to the historic Leeds-Liverpool Canal and one of the busiest arterial routes into the city centre presented unique challenges, from creating a cofferdam to installing the foundations whilst protecting the local environment, to creating retail space under the Merseyrail commuter route. Overcoming these challenges has made the achievement even more rewarding.

“Hartley Locks is more than just new homes – it is a vibrant, sustainable community that reflects our commitment to excellence and to supporting Torus’ vision for high-quality, affordable housing that will benefit Liverpool for generations to come.”