AN affordable homes scheme has been unveiled in Colne.

The £3 million development, The Arches, has come to life a decade after stalling when the previous developer stopped trading.

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The Arches comprises 21 two- and three-bedroom properties in a mix of mews and townhouse styles in Knotts Lane.

Cheshire-based specialist developer Mulbury has built the properties on behalf of Housing Pendle, part of Together Housing Group, which will make the homes available for social rent.

Kevin Morris, construction manager at Mulbury, said: “When Mulbury took on the scheme, eight of the homes were partially built, while others were only part way out of the ground, so the project presented some real challenges for us.

“Because the development had been abandoned for so long, the brickwork on some of the incomplete homes had become weathered, so we had to take them back to ground level and start again.

“We also had to specially source materials to match the original brickwork.” He said that the finished development “looks great.”

Housing Pendle’s Renea Cammish said: “The development presented many challenges which many other developers would have shied away from, but our partnership with Mulbury has provided an excellent finished product.

“This development has enabled Housing Pendle to provide high-quality, affordable homes to people in housing need.

“The properties are also energy efficient, so they will help lower fuel bills.”

Waterside councillor Dorothy Lord said: “It’s excellent news to see that the development has been built as it was left unfinished for so many years.”