RESIDENTS in Brierfield are to benefit from £2million of investment to improve their homes.

The money is part of the £12million Pendle will receive as part of the Government's Housing Market Renewal Initiative - a massive housing improvement scheme known as Elevate.

Councillors agreed to spend the money as soon as possible at a full council meeting at Nelson town hall.

The cash will enable people who own or live in houses - which have been deemed "unfit" by inspectors - in parts of Brierfield to apply for renovation grants or minor works grants to improve their properties.

An area development framework, drawn up to suggest proposals on the regeneration of the area, has identified 850 unfit houses. As a result only houses not included in any other Elevate proposals in the next two years will be eligible.

It is anticipated £500,000 will be spent this financial year on the improvements, with £1,411,000 the following year on the grants which have not been available in Brierfield under the current policy.

Councillor David Whipp said he hoped other areas in the borough would benefit in the future from the grants.

He said: "We have an enormous number of properties in Pendle that need improvements and these improvement grants are vital in actually achieving the improvements we would all like to see.

"It is vital we get on with this and make a good job of it and achieve success, not only for the people directly affected in Brierfield but for the people of Pendle who deserve to get these grants."

Leader of the council Alan Davies added: "We desperately want to get funding for the people of Brierfield as soon as possible."