Work starts on Keepmoat’s £31m Blackburn resi

A total of 205 homes are being created as part of the housebuilder’s Water’s Edge development on land bounded by Haslingden Road and Fishmoor Reservoir.

Of the properties, which feature solar panels, heat recovery systems and a play area, 57 are being delivered in partnership with Great Places.

Keepmoat is ploughing £31m into a property split of 168 houses and 37 apartments is being built, with the latter being made available for affordable rent, and 20 shared ownership homes to be sold by Plumlife Homes.

The homes will range from one- to four-bedrooms properties, with at least one parking space per property.

One of the features of the scheme is the creation of sustainable urban drainage ponds within the development to store surface rainwater runoffs.

This will reduce flood risk with the aim of making the neighbourhood a rich habitat for birds and bees, and plants.

The development will also include measures to enhance biodiversity, including tree planting and the creation of a wildflower corridor linking ecological habitats.

There will be play areas and footpath links with Fishmoor Reservoir creating opportunities for activities such as walking and cycling.

Work has started on Keepmoat’s Water’s Edge development. Credit: Keepmoat Homes

Peter Barlow, managing director, Keepmoat Homes said: “The development, sitting close to the town centre and key employment hubs, will complement the area by adding vibrancy to the existing community through the introduction of formal public open space and a network of cycle and footpath links throughout the site.

“The new homes are located on the doorstep to a host of excellent transport links, and are close by to supermarkets and independent stores, alongside leisure facilities such as skating rinks and cinemas.”

Water’s Edge figures Blackburn with Darwen Council’s adopted local plan, which identified the land opposite the Royal Blackburn Hospital for the development of new homes.

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, deputy leader at Blackburn with Darwen Council and executive member for growth and development, added: “We’ve worked incredibly hard with our partners – Keepmoat Homes and Great Places – to bring forward this site to create quality, new family homes, importantly, including affordable options for our key workers.

“This development has also brought forward much-needed highways improvements along the Haslingden Road stretch – a major gateway route into the Borough.

“The surrounding area will also benefit further from £20m of new Levelling Up funding that the council has successfully secured for South East Blackburn, including improvements to Junction 5 of the M65 and active travel routes.

“We’ve already seen how developments like this in our borough have helped positively change the lives for our residents and we look forward to helping do the same at Water’s Edge.”

Helen Spencer, executive director of growth at Great Places, added: “We are excited to be part of this development working with Keepmoat to deliver 57 much-needed affordable homes in Blackburn. A number of these affordable homes will initially be advertised to employees of the local health trusts, this is a great opportunity given the proximity of the new homes to the hospital.

‘’We will also be delivering a number of three-bedroom homes for shared ownership to support people taking their first step to owning their own home.’’

The project team for the development has been headed up by DLP Planning.

To view the plans, search for application reference number 10/23/0616 on Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning portal.