Housing developer is asked to look at transforming derelict site
A DERELICT area of land which is a magnet for travellers, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping could be turned into a ‘high quality’ housing development.
Regeneration and property development firm Keepmoat has been asked by Hyndburn council to inspect the site at the bottom of Steiner Street in Accrington and assess its potential for building new homes.
The land has been derelict since January 2013 when the last properties were demolished using Housing Market Renewal funding to reduce oversupply of two-bed terraced homes in the area.
The council said since then the site has been ‘difficult to manage’ due to fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
Although the site has never been formally advertised on the open market, various other developers have viewed the area but no plans have ever been submitted.
Keepmoat is due to complete the second phase of the Project Phoenix housing scheme along Blackburn Road in west Accrington by the end of this year. Council bosses have now entered into an agreement to transfer the land to Keepmoat if a ‘mutually acceptable development proposal’ can be agreed.
A spokesperson for Keepmoat in the North West said: “A number of weeks ago, we carried out a site inspection in Accrington and have provided initial feedback to Hyndburn council on our findings. As a national housebuilder, we carry out site inspections every week and have been working in partnership with the council to examine multiple sites on surplus land to identify how we can regenerate key areas in the region.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson said the council has agreed to not market the land until Keepmoat has carried out its investigation and assessed whether it is viable for housing.
He said: “We are hopeful that Keepmoat, who have been successful in west Accrington, will come along and do a similar high quality development which will be of benefit to the area and also improve the aspect as you come along Hyndburn Road.
“What we do want are developments that improve the street scene and enhance it as you come into Accrington.
“We don’t want it to be left as it presently is with a derelict site, but at the same time you don’t want to rush in and develop it in a way which isn’t of benefit to the area.”