DARWEN is ‘showing the way’ when it comes to housing, according to the man in charge for the borough.

New executive member for housing, Simon Huggill, set out his stall by saying Blackburn ‘would do well to follow Darwen’s lead’, as prices have risen by an average £1,127 in the past year compared to Blackburn’s stock losing an average £11,938.

The average home in Darwen costs £104,974, narrowing the gap to Blackburn’s average on £108,372.

Figures are from property website Rightmove.

Coun Huggill said he now wanted Darwen to build on what he calls ‘confidence’ in the market, and attract higher earners from places like Preston and Bolton.

He said: “Looking at the figures, you can see that Darwen is bucking the national trend and doing better than Blackburn.

“There are many reasons for that, but most of the market in Darwen is terrace housing and I think in times of economic difficulty, people have less fear when buying those types of house.

“They’re often economical to run with lower bills for things like heating and they’re in Band A for council tax.

“The new leisure centre has also improved the town, and things like the Townscape Heritage Initiative, doing up the likes of Holker House, and the new frontage of the town hall look really good”

Coun Huggill, who was born in London and brought up in Somerset, added: “People like to slag off this town, but actually we’re very proud of it. I came here 26 years ago and it’s grown on me ever since.

“We have wonderful countryside, we’re right on the motorway, and there is a good sense of community.”

Stuart Matthews, manager of Your Move estate agent in Market Street, Darwen, said: “Prices are holding their own in Darwen.

“There’s regeneration of the town centre, the new Darwen Academy opening, the new leisure centre, and a lot more investment coming into the town.

“Across the North West generally there seems to be more confidence now we have had the Budget out of the way and the HIP packs have been abolished.”