Work to start in Blackburn after ‘affordable’ homes plan gets go ahead

Work will start in the next few weeks on a long-awaited development of 23 homes for ‘affordable’ rent on the site of a former council resource centre.The scheme in Mill Hill, Blackburn will provide a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes and bungalows. Government changes in cash support for housing associations put the project on hold in May.Now, a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency has allowed Manchester-based Great Places to complete the demolition of Mill Hill Resource Centre, starting next month. The actual building of the new properties is expected to begin in March for completion in summer next year. The project will result in two two-bedroomed bungalows, seven two-bedroomed houses, 12 three-bedroomed houses and two four-bedroomed houses on the land in Mill Hill Street.All will be at ‘100 per cent affordable’ rents.Mill Hill councillors Damian Talbot and Jim Smith welcomed news of the development going ahead.In a report to tomorrow’s (THURS) full Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum, borough housing boss Yusuf Jan Virmani reveals: “Great Places are currently preparing the build programme.”