The creation of one of Lancashire’s biggest ever housing developments has taken another step forward after a report to invest in and progress the proposals was approved.
Huncoat Garden Village is a proposed 1,816 home development on a former colliery site in Hyndburn that would cost around £100 million.
Hyndburn Council’s Cabinet approved a report to invest in and progress the proposals on Wednesday (May 31).
The report presented to the cabinet included information about the appointment of external consultants to support ongoing work.
This would enable the council to meet the short time-frame requirements to secure funding and progress along the proposed timeline.
During the meeting, an update was given by both portfolio holder for housing and regeneration, Cllr Kath Pratt, and Hyndburn’s head of housing and regeneration.
Cllr Pratt said: “Huncoat Garden Village is a major growth project within the Council’s Corporate Strategy.
"It is a complex project that has been subject to very careful development, consideration, and approval by cabinet, including approval of the Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan Framework and Infrastructure Delivery Strategy.”
Earlier this year Hyndburn Council submitted a full Treasury Green Book compliant business case to Homes England, seeking grant funding of almost £30m.
In March, the Homes England’s National Investment Project Executive Board considered and approved the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for Huncoat Garden Village.
The masterplan for Huncoat Garden Village promises to build 1,504 new homes in the next 15 years, with another 312 to be built after 2036.
The project, built around the existing village and the former Huncoat Colliery power station site, pledges to protect bio-diversity and be a 'butterfly haven'.
It includes a new village centre with local shops and community buildings, and also proposes a new road linking the village directly to the A56, the expansion of Huncoat Junior School and improvements to the railway station.
Cllr Peter Britcliffe, joint deputy leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “These plans are a major part of our future growth and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to diversify our housing offer and provide new, high-quality housing in a fabulous setting.
“This game-changing opportunity will not only help the borough retain families that would otherwise relocate, but it will attract new economically active households to the area.
“This boost to our economy is something we welcome and I am very pleased that today cabinet approved this report to progress things further.”
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