WORK on a new housing estate in a picturesque country village began yesterday (MON JULY 9).

The 39-home Fellside development in Chipping is the latest stage of the £19million Kirk Mill scheme in Chipping in the Ribble Valley.

Approved in 2016 the overall project includes a spa hotel and restaurant and a new home for the village cricket club.

Fellside, being developed by Chipping Homes, is being built on the former H. J. Berry and Sons' chair factory which closed in 2010 and next door fields close to Chipping village centre.

The 4.4 acre site lies within the the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Given planing permission by the council in January, it includes three, four and five-bedroom homes priced between £260,000 and £500,000.

Already stage one has seen the 18th Century Grade II Listed Arkwright-style mill restored with full re-roofing, major structural improvements, cleaning and re-pointing.

Phase two saw the creation of an English Cricket Board approved cricket pitch and pavilion (which opened for summer 2017 last year) as the new home of Chipping Cricket Club.

Chipping councillor Simon Hore said: "It is good news building work has finally started.

"These are the right homes in an appropriate site using the former Berry chair's factory and the nearby fields. We have not seen a lot of housing development in Chipping and this part of wider redevelopment master plan."

Following a competitive tender process, Harry Fairclough Construction was appointed to built the £13million scheme of three, four and five-bedroom homes using natural stone, render and buff brick with slate and tile roofs.

The show home, the four-bedroom ‘Finstock’, will be available to view in Spring next year, with the first homes ready to move into soon after.

Speaking at the official sod cutting ceremony yesterday (9 July, 2018), Chipping Homes director Ken Whitaker said: “Careful consideration has been taken to design Fellside to complement its beautiful, natural surroundings and heritage.

"Harry Fairclough’s proven track record on significant projects in the north of England will ensure our development is built to top quality.”

Martin Budden, chairman of the Warrington-based builders, said: “We are looking forward to this exciting development.

"A lot of planning, hard-work and dedication has gone in to getting to this stage."