ALMOST 400 homes could be demolished in the Whitefield area of Nelson as part of a regeneration project which will transform housing in Pendle.

Pendle Council held a series of drop-in sessions informing residents about the proposals to rejuvenate Nelson as part of the Government's Housing Market Renewal Initiative, Elevate.

The sessions allowed residents to have their say on how they believe the future of the town should be shaped.

It follows a decision last year by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to veto council plans to compulsory purchase and bulldoze 162 homes in Whitefield, which residents and English Heritage fought for three years to save.

Brian Cookson, Pendle Council's executive director for regeneration, said none of the proposals for the area replicated those rejected at the public inquiry.

He said: "I think there has been a lot of positive feedback, particularly in Whitefield.

"People want to see some positive change, and to do that they know some houses may have to be demolished.

"By and large there is a lot of optimism for developing Whitefield as a desirable place to live which we want to be able to develop over the next few years."

The options for Whitefield are:

the demolition of 95 residential properties, providing access to the Leeds Liverpool canal, open space and dedicated age play areas, off-street parking, rear gardens and tree planting

bulldozing approximately 242 properties, providing a new high-quality housing development linking the town centre, attracting more affluent families to the area. This would be combined with an expanded conservation area creating the possibility of about 65 new homes alongside the canal, open space, dedicated play areas, off-street parking, rear gardens, tree planting and the creation of public spaces

the demolition of approximately 385 properties

the demolition of approximately 352 properties.

A report by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, the consultants who have drawn up these proposals, says the third and fourth options are intended to provide the same benefits as option two, but on a larger scale.

Public opinion about the proposals will be considered before any decisions are made.

These will then form a 15-year regeneration plan called an Area Development Framework, which will be used to bid for funding from the Government.