A MULTI-million pound scheme to renew an area of Stacksteads is being pursued by Rossendale Council.

At a meeting of the housing sub-committee, councillors agreed to invite tenders from five consultants for a renewal area to cover Newchurch Road and streets running off the main road.

Councillors are now seeking approval from the Secretary of State for the Environment for the area to be declared a renewal area and housing chairman Coun Stephen Birtwell, said: "Hopefully, people living in that area will see work starting towards the latter end of the year."

The renewal area would be a similar scheme to one which has been carried out in Blackburn Road, Haslingden, but Coun Birtwell said it was twice as long and probably would include three times as many properties.

The outside of the houses and businesses will be sandblasted, railings replaced, creating environmental areas and houses will also be provided with energy-saving improvements.

Coun Birtwell said: "Once it is declared a renewal area we will be applying for funding for the work to go-ahead and we are talking in millions. We will also be applying to the SRB for Bacup and Stacksteads for help in funding the scheme.

"This is something we have been wanting to do for quite some time and now Blackburn Road is done we can go forward with the plans. Having the SRB money has helped.

"One problem we have is there is a lot of commercial property in that area and grants are usually only available for residential properties. Once the area is declared a renewal area the funding will be available for everyone, commercial and residential."

He said the work could take three years to complete, but residents will start seeing improvements as soon as the scheme begans.

Stacksteads Coun Michael McShea, whose own home will be included in the scheme if it goes ahead, said: "I am delighted. It is welcome news."