Building starts on new homes site

11:01am Friday 21st March 2008

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WORK on a major housing development in the Infirmary area of Blackburn has finally begun.

A ground-cutting ceremony was held to mark the moment the 131-home project in the Mosley Street, Abraham Street and Alaska Street clearance sites got underway. But ward councillors and residents said they were upset at not being invited.

Labour councillor for Ewood Florence Oldfield said they had been "snubbed".

She said: "The community has worked really hard over many years and has been so patient. For the people of the Mosley Street area this was a really significant moment."

Representatives of housing market renewal firm Elevate, the developer and the council were at the ceremony on Friday.

Bosses said the development, by Places for People, would breathe new life into the area's housing market.

Three years ago the area was blighted by many empty and run-down houses. The housing market renewal programme, which was recently awarded another £150m of Government funding, identified it as a priority area and demolished the buildings.

The development will be the largest in the borough to take place on a clearance site to date under the HMR scheme.

Coun Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing, said: "This new build development work is excellent news for the residents in striving to improve the quality of housing in the borough."