DECADES of neglect, two public inquiries and streets of empty, boarded up houses have left people in Nelson's Whitefield ward with little faith in officials promising a better future. When the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ruled 162 houses should not be knocked down as part of the government's Housing Market Renewal strategy 14 months ago, the Prince of Wales stepped in and offered the services of his crack design team. The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment had just five days, working from 7.30am until late into the night, to thrash out a solution for the Whitefield district. Could it succeed? Reporter RACHEL EXTANCE went to find out. . .

A HARBOUR caf welcomes tourists mooring at the marina overlooked by trendy apartments, people live around town squares and cross the canal to a new sports field and leisure centre.

It sounds like a pipe dream but this is how Whitefield in Nelson will look in 15 to 20 years time if a £114million scheme for the area goes ahead.

The project would see every house in the area refurbished inside and out, Every Street would be reopened, there would be a new 'enterprise quarter' boasting light industry and craft shops with a new street, St Mary's Church would be turned into the headquarters of Heritage North West and a new group called the Whitefield Community Regeneration Partnership will be created to oversee the work.

Prince's Foundation senior design director Paul Murrain, who led the project, said: "The Whitefield master plan doesn't look a great deal different from what is there now. It's been decided there would be very little demolition but there is a remarkable amount of change in that plan."

The whole of Portland Street and the even side of Appleby Street are earmarked for demolition along with numbers 22 to 30 Mosley Street and 10 to 16 Macleod Street which would make way for a community centre and open space.

Mr Murrain said: "There is no doubt this was a very, very difficult thing to have to decide on. We know there are nine houses in the existing three terraces which are occupied by members of your community and that caused us numerous problems, sadness and tensions bearing in mind what you have been through."

Leisure facilities for indoor and outdoor sports would be built on the other side of the canal across the bridge from Lomeshaye Road while the enterprise quarter will be built on the mill site.

Mr Murrain said: "Where the mills were there is a beautiful set of buildings in many ways but it is a run down sorry place at the moment. There is great potential here.

"There are lots of small business opportunities for crafts and light industry. There will be a new square and in Westmoreland Street people could live on one side and work on the other.

"I think the whole area is remarkably unusual and we can make it something special. It's ambitious but why not be ambitious?"

Further down the canal would be the marina where people travelling up the Leeds and Liverpool Canal can stop off and visit Nelson.

The street system would be opened up to allow people to travel between the town centre and Whitefield more easily and the team hope cycle routes and bus routes will gradually expand.