Great Places completes 67 affordable Darwen homes

The housing association has cut the ribbon on its £9.6m Heathfields development, part of a wider 353-home scheme.

Great Places Housing Group has delivered 67 affordable homes on the 44-acre Miner’s Gate site in Darwen, formerly home to Ellison Fold Colliery. The coal mine closed before the First World War.

Providing a mix of shared ownership and affordable rent properties, Great Places’ development forms part of a larger neighbourhood being developed by McDermott Homes.

Once completed, there will be a total of 353 homes delivered across two parcels of land.

Approved in 2021, the wider scheme will be accessed off Ellison Fold Way – a £3m East Darwen Link Road created by Blackburn with Darwen Council in order to enable development on the land.

Helen Spencer, executive director for growth at Great Places, said: “It’s been great to work with McDermott Homes, the council, and all the partners on this project to deliver high-quality new homes in a true mixed tenure setting where there has been a range of options to move-in.

“It was lovely to meet new residents who are enjoying their homes and have already formed a new community, the site illustrates what the power of partnership can achieve and what new homes can mean in changing people’s lives.”

Council Leader Phil Riley added: “We know that improving the quality of housing in our borough is one of the very best ways to help improve the lives of our residents and better their life chances and this really is a good example of that.

“Once again, this is also showing the worth of strong partnership working – something we are proud of and renowned for in Blackburn with Darwen and I’d like to thank Great Places and McDermott Homes for their ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality housing in our borough.”