UP to 340 new starter homes could be constructed across Pendle if an ambitious town hall initiative finds favour with Whitehall.

No fewer than 14 locations across the borough could benefit under the Unlocking The Land Fund bid, drawn up by Pendle Council and costing £8.46million, for support from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Under the government’s intentions, up to 20 per cent would be knocked off the market value of the houses, for couples or families under 40 looking to get onto the housing ladder. The agency would then look for a 75 per cent return on their investment.

Extra housing could be provided at Bunkers Hill, in Colne, to sit alongside previously developed land, and the former Bright Street, the cleared land at Church Meadows, behind New Market Street.

But the bulk of the sites in public ownership would be in Nelson, offering 114 potential homes, with Cooper Street, Further Clough Head, Bankhouse Road and Halifax Road all earmarked as part of the scheme.

Another eight former industrial sites, at undisclosed places across the borough, which could be developed for 210 houses, forms the remainder of the authority’s submission.

Under the government’s intentions, up to 20 per cent would be knocked off the market value of the houses, for couples or families under 40 looking to get onto the housing ladder. The agency would look for a 75 per cent return on their investment.

Cllr Asjad Mahmood, housing executive member, said: “The whole aim of this is trying to get people onto the housing ladder.

“This gives them a lot more freedom as they can potentially buy the site and tailor the house to their own requirements.”

Housing manager Dorothy Morris has warned that the scheme could be considered marginal for some sites, bearing in mind the housing market in Pendle and property values.

Before any single site was developed further feasibility work would be required, councillors were told.