A Muse-led public-private partnership has unveiled the first housing development sites for its £1bn programme of affordable, low carbon homes.

Habiko – the affordable homes partnership with Homes England and Pension Insurance Corporation – has picked Chester and Warrington for the first 590 homes in a 3,000-home development programme.

At Charterhall Drive in Chester, around 350 homes are planned on land next to the city’s railway station. Architect shedkm is developing designs ahead of a planning submission later this year.

Charterhall Drive lies close to Chester train station

The scheme forms part of Chester’s 15-year regeneration strategy and will support the city’s economic revival around its historic core.

In Warrington, Habiko is working with AHR Architects to deliver around 240 flats between Academy Street and Mersey Street, close to the Times Square district.

The partnership is setting a minimum of 75% affordable rent homes across both schemes, with the potential to reach 100%. Discounted Market Rents will be at least 20% below local market levels. All homes will be forward funded by PIC.

Lisa Gledhill, managing director of national partnerships at Muse, said Chester and Warrington were “great places to kickstart Habiko’s build programme”.

PIC Capital managing director Hayley Rees added: “Following a successful launch of Habiko, announcing these first two projects emphasises our focus on purpose – delivering low carbon, low energy affordable homes for rent at pace.”