COUNCILLORS said they are powerless to act over an ‘eyesore’ housing development in Darwen.

Work on Belgrave Heights site was halted mid-way through after developer McInerney Homes went into administration in 2009.

Only about 50 of the planned 135 homes were completed, while the rest of site off Bolton Road has been left looking like a building site.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s recently published Local Plan acknowledged the scheme was an ‘awful eyesore in the town centre and for those residents who moved into the early completions’.

But the plan added: “The council does not have the ability to intervene to kick-start the development.

“The developer’s circumstances are complex. [The council] will continue to monitor the situation and explore any available opportunity to support the re commencement/completion of the scheme.”

The site was originally taken over from McInerney Homes by administrators KPMG, but a spokesman said it was sold on last summer.

Land Registry records show the site is now owned by Altrincham-based Belgrave Mill Ltd, which according to the Companies House website is in liquidation.

The Lancashire Telegraph was not able to contact the firm yesterday.

Darwen councillor Dave Smith said: “The houses which were finished are very nice, but they’ve been looking out on to a building site for years now.

The problem is the market is just completely flat, but I believe there is a firm which is looking to buy it, so hopefully they can get a move on and it’ll be good for everyone.”