‘Ghost town’ claim over housing estate
RESIDENTS say they are living in a ‘ghost town’ after the developer of a controversial housing estate entered administration.
Baxenden Developments Limited built eight semi-detached and four detached homes at the former Hill Top Care Home site in Baxenden.
However, residents said the estate has looked like a ‘ghost town’ over recent months with only one of the properties currently occupied. The developer was placed into administration on June 19, although administrators say the homes are still being marketed.
George Spence, of Newton Drive, said the situation is ‘a mess’.
He said: “We were told from the very outset that it was going to be a prestigious estate that would raise the esteem of Baxenden and it’s nothing like that.
“The builders moved off the site before Christmas 2017 but the security fencing is still there and makes it look unfinished.
“It’s been a complete disaster.
“We suffered for two years during the building of it because the road was blocked continuously by big wagons.”
Ward councillor Terry Hurn fears the development could become a magnet for vandals.
He said: “There has already been some damage done to the properties while they’ve been empty with lead pinched off some of the houses.
“It’s like a ghost town around there now. “It’s very worrying. “We have got to hope that the administrators will get them sold so it’s not a white elephant.”
Michael Goldstein, joint administrator at Myers Clark Business Recovery Limited, said all the houses were ‘fully built prior to the administration’ and are being marketed by a local estate agent.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We’ve made enquiries as to what’s happening.
“The properties will, like anything, be purchased by someone else out of administration.”
The scheme was nar- rowly approved in June 2015 after 75 letters of objection were sent to the council.
Campaigners claimed it was ‘overdevelopment’ and would impact on traffic, noise and pollution.