THE next phase of a £40 million housing development scheme in west Accrington is set to get underway.

Project Phoenix will see a new neighbourhood built to the south of Blackburn Road dubbed Phoenix Place.

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A total of 103 two, three, and four-bedroom houses, and bungalows, will be built, it has been announced.

The majority will be sold privately, although 20 homes dotted throughout the development will be set aside for social housing.

The first two phases of the scheme, the result of a partnership between Keepmoat Homes, Hyndburn Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and the Great Places Housing Group, has already seen over 100 new homes built.

It has been lauded as an improvement in the west Accrington and Church neighbourhood, which has historically suffered from low demand for housing, abandonment, and deprivation.

Keepmoat’s operations director, Gareth Roberts, said: “I am immensely proud of our achievements to date within west Accrington and Church and look forward to continuing that track record on Phoenix Place.

“Interest seems to be growing in the development and, given its prominent location on a key route into Accrington, it is an attractive gateway into the town.

“I’d also like to extend my thanks to Hyndburn Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and Great Places Housing Group for their continued support.”

The council’s housing and regeneration boss, Councillor Clare Cleary, said: “The council is delighted that Keepmoat continues to deliver high quality, affordable homes with the support of the council, Great Places Housing Group and the Homes and Community Agency.

“The improvements we now see in the west Accrington neighbourhood can be truly described as transformational and feedback from the community has been very positive.”

Plans to build almost 375 new homes in the area were finalised in January 2010, with an emphasis placed on providing a range of “high quality, energy-efficient homes in a desirable neighbourhood”.

Plans were also put in place to create a £200,000 eight-acre public wild-flower park next to the new homes, which was fenced off with mounds of earth to prevent travellers driving on to it until more housing is built.

Keepmoat offers a complete solution in creating and maintaining better communities – from building new homes and public buildings, to responsive maintenance and repairs.