MORE than 30 top architects and developers from as far away as Holland, London and Bristol visited the Whitefield area of Nelson in a bid to win the chance to transform the historic area.

They were the six teams which have got through the selection competition organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of Pendle Council and Elevate East Lancashire for the national Housing Market Renewal initiative.

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Elevate East Lancashire said: "We are delighted that this area has attracted attention from some of the leading names in British architecture.

"Good design which is responsive to the needs of modern communities is an integral part of Elevate's strategy for Housing Market Renewal." Architects also met local people including campaigner Sylvia Wilson, and chairman of the Community Forum, Mohammed Iqbal.

Brian Cookson, executive director for regeneration at Pendle Council, said: "It is clear that they are all taking this challenge very seriously and I am confident that they will come up with proposals that are both exciting and deliverable."

Architects now have two months to complete plans to show ways of adapting historic terraces, how they would restore key buildings, and what improvements they would make to the environment and community facilities.

l Above: One of the architects in the Whitefield area