Mayor makes break to mark the start of £7m homes project
STUART PIKE
THE Mayor of Hyndburn officially broke ground on a £7.4m housing development.
Coun June Harrison was joined by the Mayoress Coun Joyce Plummer and Coun Loraine Cox, Hyndburn council’s cabinet member for housing, at the former John Wood Steel Drums site on Victoria Street, Oswaldtwistle.
Housing association Great Places is building 53 new homes on the 1.3-hectare site. The mix of two, three and fourbedroom houses will be made available for affordable rent.
The site had fallen into disrepair over the past decade and work on the development is expected to be completed by Spring 2021.
Mayor Coun Harrison said: “There is a pressing need for new, high-quality affordable housing in Hyndburn and this development will go some way towards meeting future housing needs in the borough. I’m really passionate about improving the housing offer in Hyndburn and therefore I’m looking forward to the first residents moving into the new homes next spring”.
Coun Cox said: “The council’s policy is to prioritise brownfield sites for development where viable. We are delighted our partners Great Places Housing Group along with MCI Developments have chosen this derelict, former mill site.”
Helen Spencer, director of development at Great Places, said: “Great Places has worked with Hyndburn Borough Council to bring muchneeded new housing to Oswaldtwistle and this development will regenerate a part of the town that had fallen into significant disrepair.
“The site will not only bring new housing, but given its location close to the town centre, it will provide a boost to the local economy.”