MORE than £1million is to be pumped into an East Lancashire estate in a bid to improve the quality of lives for residents.

The money will be spent over the next six years in the Greenhill estate, off Shakespeare Avenue, Great Harwood and is part of £12million Major Renovation Allocation funding given to Hyndburn Council by central Government.

All council-owned properties in the area will benefit, with old-fashioned central heating systems being replaced with new gas boiler and radiator systems.

That will be the first stage of the scheme, and will be completed within two years.

External repairs will also be carried out to properties along with new insulation to make the houses environmentally friendly.

A scheme of environmental works is also being planned to improve footpaths and other local amenities in the area.

Coun Lin Wilson, a Great Harwood councillor, announced the scheme at a meeting of the Great Harwood Area Council.

She said: "This is excellent news. Homes all over Hyndburn are benefiting from this money and it is good to see it being spent in Great Harwood.

"It is about giving people nicer homes that they want to live in and also making them feel safer.

"Across the borough, a scheme called Community Wellbeing is being implemented, with better lighting and new door-entry systems being introduced in all flats with communal entrances. This will make a big difference to people in this area who have suffered in the past."

A condition survey is being carried out on all council-owned stock over the next four years, enabling the council to priorities where money needs to be spent first.

Coun Wilson added: "A number of individual properties across Great Harwood will benefit from door and window replacement scheme.

"Small things like this really make a difference."

She added plans were afoot to improve the Waverledge Estate, also in Great Harwood.