SUDELL councillor Paul Browne has attacked the chopping down of a tree for 46 new affordable homes in Darwen.

The former Elizabeth House residential home in Sudellside Street is being redeveloped by theThe Together Housing Group, which owns Twin Valley Homes.

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The new affordable housing will match that on the rest of the former Ellenshaw estate, knocked down years ago.

Liberal Democrat Coun Browne said: “I’m all in favour of the new development but not chopping down trees.

“Some of these trees are 100 years old.

“Replanting is not good enough.

The development also includes landscaping and a new access road from Sudellside Street, opposite Darwen Valley Community Centre.

A new cul-de-sac off Ellerbeck Street, at the bottom of Garnett Street, will be created.

Wendy Malone, Together Housing Group’s head of project management, said: “The environmental impact of our re-developments is of paramount importance, which is why we will double the amount of trees on the site prior to clearance.”