Work starts on major Blackburn housing scheme

Work is underway on a new development in Blackburn – which the council hailed as “one of the biggest-ever housing regeneration projects in the town”.Blackburn with Darwen Council has worked closely with Together Housing Group and Countryside Properties to bring forward the project in Fishmoor Drive and Roman Road.It will see more than 370 homes built as well as significant investment in the surrounding area, including Countryside committing £400,000 for education.The planning application comprised new homes on three brownfield sites in Fishmoor and Higher Croft – including land where the old Newfield School was and Higher Croft Vocational Centre.Two sites were owned by the authority and had been empty for a number of years and the third was owned by Together Housing Group. The council sold its two sites to pave the way for significant regeneration of the area.The development, led by Countryside and Together Housing, will be called Brookfield Vale. It will include a mix of two, three and four bedroomed houses that will be offered for sale.Of those, 20 per cent will be allocated as affordable homes by Together Housing and 154 will be available for private rent through PRS provider, Sigma Capital.Countryside has started work on the first site off Roman Road and hopes to have the first homes ready by September.