Housing minister holds talks with Elevate
Elevate, the Housing Market Renewal Initiative delivery body for East Lancashire used a visit by housing minister Iain Wright to argue the case for an extra £156m of Government funding over the next three years.
Wright visited sites in Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn to see work completed so far. He saw new housing in Burnley Wood and Accrington, refurbished houses in Nelson and new parks and met with Elevate's management team to discuss future plans.
Elevate has received £167m in Government funding and says it has refurbished 2,852 homes, demolished 1,178 empty or unfit properties to make way for new housing, improved services to 38,000 homes through neighbourhood management and provided environmental improvements which have benefited 23,600 homes.
Another 750 new homes have been built by the private sector, while over the next decade more than 4,000 new homes will be built for sale or rent.
The area was last year rebranded Pennine Lancashire after a study of its image by the late Tony Wilson, music guru and regeneration champion, and his partner Yvette Livesey.
The housing market renewal pathfinder has bid for a further £156m over the next three years to continue its work across Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale.