Blackburn to get multi-million pound affordable housing estate

Social housing provider Together Housing, in partnership with Place Capital Group, has submitted plans for 152 houses at a new Whitebirk Park estate.

They will include forty-six 46 one-bedroom apartments, 45 two-bedroom houses and apartments, 54 three-bed houses and seven four-bed houses.

The new homes, all available at affordable rent, will be on Hereford Road in Whitebirk and streets around it, including Worcester Road, Brecon Road, Devon Road and Gloucester Road.

They will be made up of much-needed and spacious family properties along with homes for individuals and couples.

How the houses could look

The proposals have been brought forward following engagement and consultation with local residents which commenced in Autumn 2021 and includes millions of pounds of investment into the wider Whitebirk community.

This investment will include upgrades to green spaces such as the park off Hereford Road – with plans for new play equipment and seating alongside open and accessible pathways, plants and green space.

The previous buildings were investigated to see if various options to retrofit, remodel, and improve them would be suitable.

Investigations proved that demolition and rebuilding would be the best way to bring about significant investment and provide high-quality, much-needed affordable housing for local people.

CGI images of how the houses could work

The plans include proposals for energy-efficient new homes with proposals to include solar panels, air source heat pumps and other systems to keep bills low for residents whilst emphasising Together Housing’s ongoing commitment to help tackle climate change.

The plans also include improved parking facilities, bike storage, private gardens and newly landscaped areas.

A planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council was submitted over the weekend.

Matthew Newman, assistant director for place shaping at Together Housing, said: “Together, with Place Capital Group, we want to ensure Place Shaping benefits the community and means residents feel their community is somewhere they can take deep pride in.

"These plans for the Whitebirk community have been created with residents at the forefront as it was important that we listened to feedback so that our proposals reflected residents’ views before submitting to the council.

“Residents have been open and honest about what they want to see from this investment and we’re eager to deliver these changes to create a lasting community in Whitebirk.”