PLANS for a development of 23 environmentally friendly houses designed for several generations of a family to live together have been unveiled.

The plans for Chester Street, Accrington, also include a bungalow adapted for a wheelchair user, in a bid to provide much-needed housing for groups of the community that are often over looked.

The proposals have been put forward by Hyndburn Homes but are currently subject to the organisation gaining planning perm-ission and funding.

Some of the properties will have as many as five bedrooms and are designed as homes for families who have several generations or extended members living with them for cultural or financial reasons.

Rona Courtney, head of corporate and support services, said: "There are not enough large family homes to meet the demands of the local population.

"Some of these properties will offer accommodation for extended families and we know from our own waiting list that there is a lot of demand for larger homes.

"These new properties will enhance our housing stock and the options we can offer."

The houses currently on the site will be demolished to make way for the new properties.

Hyndburn Homes will rent out 20 of the new buildings and the remaining three will be for available for outright sale.

Rona continued: "One three-bedroomed bungalow has been especially designed for a family with a disabled user.

"As well as being wheelchair acces-sible, we will be able to carry out specific adaptations to suit the individual needs of the occupier."

The properties have also been designed with the environment in mind.

Architectural firm MBLA Architects and Urbanists in Manchester have developed their plans so that they have a good EcoHomes rating.

This is an environmental rating which takes into account how the properties were built and how energy efficient they will be to run.

Steve Bradshaw, from MBLA, said: "These prop-erties include solar panels which will pre-heat water before it enters the boiler and a communal refuse area which has been designed to encourage recycling.

"Externally they will be built from buff reconstituted stone to blend in with the existing environment.

"Internally they offer spacious living accom-modation to suit the needs of the modern family."