Final phase work to begin on long-delayed Lancashire housing estate 16 years after scheme was conceived
Work will start on the long-delayed final phase of a problem-plagued Blackburn housing estate next month 16 years after the regeneration scheme was first conceived.
The 80 high-quality new homes off Redlam Brow will complete the flagship multi-million pound Griffin blueprint. Blackburn with Darwen Council has confirmed that all agreements are now in place for the project to move forward.
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Funding has been secured through Section 106 developers contributions, enabling the final phase to proceed after years of clearance, compulsory purchase and preparation across the wider Griffin area.
The council has appointed delivery teams to take the project forward in partnership with McDermott Homes and Great Places Housing, who together will deliver a mix of affordable and privately owned homes.
The scheme to build new homes on the 6.11 acres of land between Mill Hill and the town centre was first mooted in 2010, but stalled when the government at the time scrapped the market housing renewal scheme.
It was revived in August 2018 with a proposal to build 137 two, three and four-bedroom family properties, but hit more problems when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Great Places Housing Group and Seddon Construction built 56 of the new homes between 2019 and 2021, including 41 for affordable rent and 15 for shared ownership.
But, the second phase was hit by the pandemic and the need to compulsorily purchase three terraced properties earmarked for demolition from owners unwilling to sell. In the meantime, Blackburn with Darwen Council purchased the nearby redundant Griffin Inn public house.
Previous phases of the development saw exceptionally high demand, with more than 400 applications received for the first 56 homes delivered off Shakespeare Way. This next phase will complete the transformation of the former brownfield site, previously cleared as part of the council’s area regeneration programme.
Its design includes the use of red brick to reflect local character, with existing trees and hedges to be retained wherever possible.
Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Improving the quality of housing in our borough is one of the very best ways to improve the lives of our residents, and the transformation already seen in the first phase of Griffin has been remarkable.
“Starting on site next month sends a really strong message to the community that this development is happening, it’s fully supported by the council, and it marks the final chapter in bringing this long‑standing regeneration area back into positive use.
“This has been a complex site to bring forward, and the progress we’re now making is testament to the determination of our teams and our strong partnerships with Great Places Housing and McDermott Homes.”