Hyndburn acquires Market Chambers, disposes of two acres
The council’s cabinet has approved a compulsory purchase order for the Accrington town centre building, while Watson Homes is lined up to buy a two-acre plot off Charter Street to deliver 58 homes.
Market Chambers
Hyndburn Council can progress with its conversion of Market Chambers off Market Place to introduce a cultural and heritage venue in Accrington town centre following the cabinet’s approval of a CPO for the building.
The council announced its plans to acquire the Market Chambers through a compulsory purchase order in March when a sale by agreement was “not looking likely”, according to the local authority.
Immediate purchase is necessary as plans for the building form part of Hyndburn Council’s successful £20m Levelling Up Fund for Accrington Acre.
Approval of a CPO ensures that the council can stay within timelines set out as part of the LUF award, which state that the building must be acquired by April 2025.
READ: Levelling Up Fund: North West secures £355m
Property services consultant CBRE has led the discussions regarding Hyndburn Council’s acquisition of the buildings.
Earlier this month, the council held a public consultation on its plans for the chambers.
The wider Accrington Acre project will also see the redevelopment of the town’s Burton Chambers and Market Hall to deliver a co-working space and a food and drink venue, respectively.
Watson Homes is lined up to buy the two-acre site. Credit: Google Earth
Land off Charter Street
Watson Homes is set to purchase the two-acre plot off Charter Street in Accrington as the cabinet has approved the disposal of the land.
The housebuilder is wants to deliver 58 homes on the site.
Hyndburn Council’s cabinet has approved the disposal of the land at an agreed price of £217,000.
Approval follows councillor recommendations, which highlighted the opportunity to deliver affordable housing to the area and stop fly grazing on the site.
Watson has offered to manage the development of the site in order to introduce affordable housing to the outskirts of the town centre.
The local authority acquired the larger 14-acre site in 1980 from the British Railways Board, and has considered selling it for residential development since 2019.
Currently marked as public open space, the council must advertise its intention to sell the land before a final sale can be made.
How kind of them to keep it clean and tidy. Stop flytipping and be general all round good guys. I suppose the ove 3million profit when built doesn’t enter the equation.
By Anonymous