A GROUP of 21 affordable homes on a new housing estate on the site of the former Rossendale General Hospital have been officially opened.

The two and three bedroomed properties for shared-ownership are a key part of the Dale Moor View scheme approved in 2013.

Already developer Taylor Wimpey has sold 65 of its homes on the 139 house estate in Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall.

Earlier this week Rossendale MP Jake Berry and borough Mayor Marilyn Procter officially unlocked the show home to mark the sales launch of the scheme.

So far three of the new shared-ownership properties have been bought in advance.

The scheme is run by Plumlife, the affordable homes section of Great Places Housing Group, to make property ownership more accessible for local families.

Tory MP Mr Berry said: “Dale Moor View provides local working people with an opportunity to get onto the property ladder.

"Shared Ownership is a fantastic government scheme for house hunters who want to own their own home.

"It’s vital that any development in Rossendale is aimed at those local people who need affordable housing.”

Great Places Housing Group chief executive Matthew Harrison said: “We worked in partnership with Taylor Wimpey to develop a number of shared ownership homes at Dale Moor View.

"Shared Ownership is one way for local people to realise their dreams of getting onto the property ladder and we’ve helped hundreds of house hunters across the North West buy their first home.”

Mark Calvert, land director at Taylor Wimpey, said: “Since opening our doors in November 2013, Dale Moor View has been incredibly popular ."

The building, which began life as part of Haslingden Workhouse in the late 1860s, later became the town general hospital, closed in September 2010.

Also at the launch were the leader of Rossendale Council Alyson Barnes, Christine Lamb, portfolio holder for development control, and councillor Annie McMahon, Gladys Sandiford, Anne Cheetham and Amanda Robertson.

Heritage campaigners opposed the decision to knock down the building for the housing development.

The Plumlife homes are available to be purchased through the government's 'Help to Buy' shared ownerships scheme.

A two-bedroomed house starts at £49,000 for a portion of a house worth £140,000, with a rent/mortgage payment of £209pcm.

The three-bedroomed start at £59,500 for a share in a house worth £170,000 with a monthly rent/mortgage payment of £253. Minimum deposit is five per cent and purchasers can increase their share of the house when they can afford it.