A MAJOR project to buy empty homes and renovate them for the rental market has been announced for a ‘crumbling’ part of Accrington.

A public meeting has been announced for next week to unveil long-awaited improvements for Woodnook.

Residents have waited for decades for action to be taken on boarded up and empty homes and the project’s lead developer is the Together Housing Group.

Hyndburn Council said that it is ‘dedicated’ to ensuring the area experiences a revival, in spite of receiving a lower amount of funding than originally planned for the area.

Residents had feared the area would degenerate into a ‘ghetto’ after housing regeneration cash was axed, and are said to be impatient for good news.

Chairman of Woodnook Residents’ Community Association Danny Cassidy said that they are impatient to see the fine details of the plans and were disappointed to have not been part of the decision making.

He said: “We have an overall idea of what they want to do and we don’t agree with it. They are going to refurbish homes in the centre of Woodnook and make them available for rent.

“That leaves a ring around the new refurbished homes of empty houses. No nice families will want to live there, and renting itself doesn’t always attract people who take a pride in the area.

"We wish we had been more part of the decision making, but we will be at the meeting to see exactly how much is going to be done.”

Cabinet member Clare Pritchard who oversees regeneration said the renovations will focus on streets in the Royds Street area.

“Some areas will be left unfinished but she said they would keep reapplying for funding until the entire area was complete.

The public meeting is on Wednesday, May 16 between 7pm and 9pm at Woodnook Centre, formerly Woodnook Baptist Church, Royds Street in Accrington.