Work begins on major Blackburn housing development

WORK has started on a major 205 home development close to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Keepmoat Homes Water’s Edge housing estate is on 16.6 acres of land bounded by Haslingden Road and Fishmoor Reservoir near the M65 Junction 5.

This first phase of the scheme consists of 168 houses and 37 apartments for affordable rent from Great Places Housing Association which will initially be advertised to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust staff.

Twenty houses will also be available for shared ownership with Plumlife Homes.

The £31million project includes measures to make the new homes energy-efficient with solar panels and heat recovery systems.

Phase two of the development will include a further 100 affordable apartments reserved for key NHS staff at Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals in four blocks.

The scheme includes a new play area and Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) ponds to store surface rainwater runoffs to reduce flood risk and make the neighbourhood a richer habitat for birds and bees, plants and people with tree planting and a wildflower ‘corridor’ linking ecological habitats.

The breaking of the ground for the new estate comes as two industrial developments at the nearby Greenbank Business Park became ready for occupation.

Viewings have started for the Sigma and Omega buildings which offer a range of commercial units from 1,700 to 73,500 square feet.

After the work on the Water’s Edge estate started Keepmoat’s North-West regional managing director Peter Barlow said: “We’re thrilled to see work start on site.

“The development, sitting close to the town centre and key employment hubs, will complement the area by adding vibrancy to the existing community through the introduction of formal public open space and a network of cycle and footpath links throughout the site.”

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s growth boss said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard with our partners – Keepmoat Homes and Great Places – to bring forward this site to create quality, new family homes, importantly, including affordable options for our key workers.

“This development has also brought forward much-needed highways improvements along the Haslingden Road stretch – a major gateway route into the borough.

“The surrounding area will also benefit further from £20m of Levelling Up funding that the council has successfully secured for South-East Blackburn, including improvements to Junction 5 of the M65 and active travel routes.”

Helen Spencer, executive director of growth at Great Places, added: “We are excited to be part of this development working with Keepmoat to deliver 57 much-needed affordable homes in Blackburn.

“A number of these affordable homes will initially be advertised to employees of the local health trust.

“This is a great opportunity given the proximity of the new homes to the hospital.”