MORE than 100 former council homes are set to be pulled down as part of the latest demolition plans in Blackburn and Darwen.

Housing association Twin Valley Homes has applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council to pull down 128 surplus properties.

The firm has about 10,000 former council houses across the borough and has pledged to pull down up to 2,000 empty, hard-to-let properties.

Phil Richards, chief executive of Twin Valley Homes, said: "Part of our business plan when we took over the council's housing stock was to get rid of houses which were unpopular and difficult to let.

"At the same time, we are investing millions in improving the homes which people are living in and taking steps to reduce vacancy levels in homes which we believe can be filled.

"Removing these homes can improve communities instantly because in many cases they are boarded up, empty and not very appealing."

A number of schemes to increase occupancy levels have been launched since Twin Valley took on the homes. Their success could lead to fewer homes than expected being bulldozed.

So far, planning permission has been given for about 650 to be demolished but the latest list for demolition has been submitted to the authority and will take the figure close to the 800 mark.

The application includes 45 homes in Brookway, Blackburn, with another 17 in Scotland Bank Terrace. A further 18 homes in Norbreck Close, Higher Croft, are also earmarked for demolition under the scheme.

In Darwen, 23 houses in Ellenshaw Close will be bulldozed, along with 23 in Ellerbeck Road. Both are in the Sudell area of Darwen.

Houses in Lincoln Road and on the Roman Road and Temple Drive estates have also been earmarked by Twin Valley Homes. Planning permission was secured last year for their demolition.

The association has also demolished homes in North Road, Blackburn, with boarded up properties in Audley also on the firm's priority list.

The company is in negotiations with other housing associations about what to do with the land the demolished houses stood on.

Initially, it will be tidied up and landscaped, but could be used to build houses which are in demand -- such as four or five-bedroom homes -- in the future.

The firm has also been hit with a £1million-plus bill for getting rid of asbestos from houses in the Dover Close estate in Blackburn.