Hundreds of social homes have been lost in Blackburn with Darwen over the past decade.

Data from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show 30 social homes were built in Blackburn with Darwen in the 10 years to March 2022 – although none were built in the last year.

Meanwhile, 540 social homes were sold and 120 demolished over the same period – meaning the area has lost 630 homes over the past decade.

Across England, 194,000 social homes were sold in the decade to March 2022, and 55,000 demolished.

Just 84,000 were built over the same period – resulting in a net loss of 165,000 social housing.

These figures do not include sales for low-cost homeownership.

Different figures from DLUHC also show that as of March 2022, 1.2 million people were on local authority waiting lists for social housing across England – including 3,407 in Blackburn with Darwen.

Executive member for Growth and Development, Cllr Quesir Mahmood said: “Between April 2013 and March 2022 over 820 new affordable homes were built across Blackburn with Darwen.

“We are proud to be a growing borough with an ambitious vision for the future as this reflects that. As a council, we are committed to more quality, affordable homes in our borough.

“Social housing in the borough is run through Housing Associations and Registered Providers in accordance with the Government policy which entitles tenants to buy their home through the Right To Buy programme.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: “Increasing the number of genuinely affordable homes is central to our levelling up mission.

“Since 2010 we have delivered over 620,000 affordable homes in England, including over 160,000 for social rent.

“But there is much more to do and that is why we’re investing £11.5 billion to build more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs.”