500 new affordable homes plan for Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

500 new affordable homes plan for Burnley

9:00am Friday 23rd September 2011

BURNLEY will get 500 new affordable homes under new plans.

The scheme, which is being supported by town hall chiefs, will replace rows of derelict Victorian terraces in the south-west part of the town.

MP Gordon Birtwistle hailed the announcement as 'brilliant news'.

He said: "These new homes will bring high-quality and affordable homes to Burnley.

"This is another major investment to Burnley and this should become a prosperous and thriving neighbourhood.”

Keepmoat Homes, the developer behind the scheme, has revealed a mix of two, three and four bedroomed family homes off Smirthwaite Street.

Work has already begun to bulldoze rundown homes on the site, off Accrington Road, to create a new estate called Pendle View.

Social housing provider Harvest has also been signed up to secure ‘affordable’ homes for sale and rent.

Margaret Goddard, Harvest’s development director, said: “The development provides an important boost to the property market in this area.

“There is currently a shortage of low-cost family homes, and this development will go some way to addressing that shortage.”

Work on the Accrington Road corridor has already seen the completion of the Pennine View housing development, beside the M65. Those properties are on the market for around £93,000.

Bosses said the new homes would be available for sale, shared ownership and to rent.

And confidence has grown with the redevelopment of the Moorhouses’ Brewery and the reopening of the former Kwik Save store by Farm Foods.

Doncaster-based Keepmoat unveiled proposals to build 111 homes in the Smirthwaite Street area earlier this year.

But it has now emerged that the development could form part of an estate which will be five times that size.

Ian Fletcher, the developer’s land and partnership manager, made the announcement while confirming a deal had been struck with the town hall for the Smirthwaite Street homes.

He said: “This scheme forms the second phase of the transformation of south west Burnley which could eventually see the development of up to 500 new family homes in the locality.

“The aim is to radically improve the housing offer to people in Pennine Lancashire and bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to communities there.”

The same company is also behind the Towneley Gardens complex in Oxford Road, Burnley Wood.

Coun Roger Frost, the council’s regeneration cabinet member, said: “We’re delighted that Keepmoat has committed to a further development in the town, which will mark great progress in the regeneration of this area.”

Another Keepmoat scheme, for 34 homes on land bounded by Hameldon Approach, Accrington Road, Tay Street and Nairne Street, was set to be approved by borough planners last night.

This week also saw plans for a further 28 homes, in two rows either side of the former Woodtop School, submitted to the council.