Summer start for Blackburn Infirmary redevelopment (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Summer start for Blackburn Infirmary redevelopment

2:00pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News By Sam Chadderton, Reporter

DEVELOPERS behind a 116-home plan on the former Blackburn Infirmary site hope to start work this summer.

Residents, councillors, housing firm representatives and Blackburn MP Jack Straw were at the Ivy Street Community Centre on Saturday for an exhibition of revised proposals for the eyesore site.

Locals said they are desperate for work to start on land left like a ‘bombsite’ since work stalled in 2008.

Housebuilders David Wilson Homes set out a revised scheme of ‘traditional family homes’ and hope to secure local government funding to encourage first time buyers to the area.

Plans include pedestrianised ‘homezones’, a retail outlet and a convenience store on the land which lies between Bolton Road, Infirmary Road and Longshaw Lane.

Planning director for David Wilson Homes, Andrew Taylor said: “We accept that it is an eyesore at the moment and that is unfortunate. But after we collate residents’ views, we hope to put in a planning application within weeks, have that approved by late spring and start on site this summer. Ideally the first homes would be occupied in the first half of 2013.

“We feel these new plans are more appropriate, commercially viable and meet the aspirations of the local authority and the community.”

The proposals do not include the War Memorial wing of the building which is separately owned by PJ Livesey. They are yet to decide on the future of that building.

Ewood Coun Maureen Bateson said: “The public will want to see somebody in there digging before they believe it is happening.”

Mr Straw said: “I think that these are good plans for the area and everybody wants to see this eyesore of a site put to good use.”

Jean Swainbank, of Longshaw Lane, said: “I’m reasonably happy and my anxiety is just for them to get on with it. I’m fed up of opening my curtains on to an eyesore and a dumping site which is dangerous and attracts kids.”