Blackburn to flex CPO muscle to break impasse
The council intends to exercise compulsory purchase powers to acquire the final two properties within the Griffin regeneration zone to advance its redevelopment into 140 homes.
Since 2008, Blackburn with Darwen Council has acquired 163 properties in the Mill Hill area south-west of Blackburn through agreements with owners.
The council has started demolishing the terraced properties, clearing the site for the construction of modern affordable housing as part of a two-phase project to be delivered by the authority’s preferred contractor Seddon Partnerships.
Last February, Blackburn with Darwen Council granted planning approval for the first phase, comprising 52 affordable homes across 3.7 acres around Hancock Street, to be managed by housing association Great Places once complete.
However, the larger second phase, which spans 5.5-acres around East Street, has so far been prevented from advancing because the council has been unable to reach an agreement with the owners of two properties on Hardman Street to the south of the plot.
As a result, the authority plans to acquire the properties by using compulsory purchase powers, having exhausted all other options, it says.
Failure to take the Hardman Street properties under council ownership could impact the viability of the wider scheme and “will adversely affect the regeneration plans for the area”, according to a council report.
Plans for the 85-home second phase are due to be submitted this spring.
Good to see positive action…..by a council
By George
Wrong – if an agreement cannot be reached; up your offer or incorporate them into your scheme! It is only two properties.
By Observer
Is this a case of the owners being greedy or the council trying to pay far less… Or maybe the people love their property and don’t want to leave… Either way this is a typical case of the council doing as they please and not caring about their residents
By Mike
This is just about right for the council, they are so out of touch with the residents of the borough it’s untrue.
By Michael Dickinson
Blackburn council has previous at this, claiming they’d tried all options while not responding to the solicitors’ letters on behalf of the owners…
By iani
Look at the diagram.
It’s part of phase 2 but on the edge of phase 1.
Clearly unnecessary to phase 2 which it is part of.
As on edge and across the road from phase 1 it isnt needed any more than Swan Rose & Mosley St / Derham St were needed for Zone 3 of Alaska St area or the block on Harwood St in Darwen.
The problem here is council doesnt tell people they can ask for houses or business or full terraces or streets to be removed from clearance areas before the resolutions are passed by Exec Board. 14 years to wait for a CPO is ridiculous. I guarantee if he objected the council wouldnt have sent official letter following clearance Exec board. In order to prevent legal challenge. Council wont release altered surveys for this area.
By D H