Countryside Properties : begins works on Blackburn’s major regeneration scheme

Regeneration work in the Higher Croft region in Blackburn, Lancashire has commenced, with Countryside, the UK's leading mixed tenure developer, Together Housing Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council set to deliver 377 homes on land by Fishmoor Drive and Roman Road.

The development, which will be called Brookfield Vale, consists of three brownfield plots which have long been earmarked by Blackburn with Darwen Council for redevelopment. Two sites were owned by the Council 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 site will be a mixed tenure development of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, with 20% of the 377 homes set be allocated for affordable units, to be delivered by Together Housing and 154 units will be available for rent managed by PRS provider Sigma Capital. The remaining 154 homes will be designated for open market sale.

The area has been sparsely populated and underused since the turn of the millennium, when a number of council properties were demolished. The development area also includes the sites of a former school and the vacated Higher Croft Vocational Centre. As well as the new homes, Countryside will be investing £395,000 into local education initiatives as part of the project.

Mark Hadfield, Managing Director, Merseyside and Cheshire West, Countryside, commented: "Countryside has a proud history of regenerating and uplifting areas throughout the North of England and beyond. We look forward to creating much needed homes across a variety of tenures and breathing life into a previously neglected area of Blackburn.

"Higher Croft has plenty of untapped potential, including proximity to the town centre, making it highly accessible. We look forward to transforming these plots of land into a thriving sustainable community together with our partners."

Kevin Ruth, Chief Executive of Together Housing Group said: "The regeneration of the sites at Fishmoor is a project we are proud to deliver alongside Countryside and our other partners. The project will benefit the area in many ways, by providing affordable quality homes, a good mix of tenure choices to meet a variety of housing needs, create employment opportunities and lift the appearance of the area. The project is further demonstration of our commitment to invest in improving the areas we work in, through regeneration and place-shaping".

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, said:"When passed, this scheme was part of the biggest planning application brought before the Council since it was formed more than 20 years ago.

"A lot of hard work has gone in to bringing this project forward with our partners and it will breathe new life into the whole area and reap real benefits for the whole community.

"It will also significantly contribute to the town's need for quality and affordable new family homes as well as our aspiration for real growth for the borough.

"With the £250m masterplan recently revealed for the town centre too, schemes like these show why Blackburn is attracting significant interest from investors - building a strong future for our residents and businesses."

Countryside began on site this month and hopes to have the first completions ready by September.