AN ECO-housing company plans to create up to 400 jobs after opening a huge £8million operation in Blackburn.

Pretek Precision Homes has taken a 192,000 sq ft unit at Walker Park, near junction five of the M65 at Guide, where thousands of custom-built pre-packed homes will be assembled.

Around 25 people are currently employed at the site, which was formerly home to one of Blackburn Rovers saviour Jack Walker’s companies.

But bosses said that by 2012 around 400 jobs could be created, with investment in new machinery and the warehouse totalling £8million.

The announcement was yesterday hailed by Blackburn MP Jack Straw and the councillor in charge of luring investment into the town.

However, a prominent estate agent sounded a note of caution about eco-housing, which is popular in Scandinavia and Germany.

Chief executive Peter Marshall, an architect from Blackpool who set up Pretek in 2009, said Blackburn was a natural choice, with Walker Park acting as the firm’s headquarters.

He said: “We looked across the whole of the north of England but we were looking for something very specific.

“We needed a facility with a large footprint and a high ceiling, for when we are manufacturing the houses, and Walker Park fitted the bill perfectly.

“We have worked with the job centre to fill positions and the people we have got are great.

“They are motivated and are very excited about the potential of the company.”

The plant will design and build the timber-based ‘structural chassis’ of eco-friendly homes, which will then be delivered to construction sites.

The chassis, which take two days to erect, will then be clad with bricks, before the plumbing and electrics are installed.

Mr Marshall said the finished homes’ prices would be ‘market competitive’ with traditional homes, but would have a much smaller carbon footprint and be more energy-efficient.

A typical Pretek home could offer 75 per cent savings on energy bills, he said.

Yesterday the announcement by Pretek was hailed by Mr Straw.

He said: “I am delighted that a site which has been vacant for so long is now back in use.

“This is a great vote of confidence in Blackburn and I look forward to making contact with the company.”

Coun Dave Harling, regeneration chief on Blackburn with Darwen Council, added: “This sounds excellent, especially considering eco-friendly homes are a growth area.

“Walker Park is right next to the motorway with great links, so it is no surprise they wanted to move in.”

Mr Marshall spent a year researching and developing the pre-packing housing sector, including the Scandinavian market, before opening the Walker Park base.

He said the firm has been bankrolled by Mr Marshall, his fellow directors and private equity backers.

He said added ‘almost every’ housing association in the country had expressed an interest in Pretek homes.

Mr Marshall said new staff would be taken on as the firm’s order book increases, up to around 400 by 2012, with jobs in assembly, quality control and management.

However, Blackburn estate agent James Whitehead said he had reservations about the plans.

He said: “I like the concept, although times have changed and housing associations will not have as much money to spend on these sorts of things in future.

“I am also unsure whether our psyche is suited to these sorts of homes.

"We are not Scandinavia.”