NEARLY 500 former council properties face demolition in Blackburn and Darwen in the next two years.

Twin Valley Homes -- which took over the council's housing stock earlier this year -- has sent details of its plans to tenant associations, who will be consulted before any decisions are made on which properties will be bulldozed.

Phil Richards, Twin Valley's chief executive, said: "Analysis of housing stock showed that we have a surplus of properties for which there is insufficient and falling demand.

"We are delivering our promise to work with tenants on stock reduction. We will minimise disruption."

A total of 470 properties -- mostly unpopular flats, bedsits and maisonettes -- are being targeted. Many, like boarded-up properties in Shadsworth in Blackburn, are unoccupied.

When Blackburn with Darwen Council transferred its 10,000 homes to Twin Valley, the new owner said it expected to identify unpopular properties and locations for demolition "in the early years." Tenants have been told about consultation meetings which will take place over the next few weeks with people who would be affected by the proposals. The outcomes will be reported to the Twin Valley board of directors in August.

Tenants affected by the demolition will receive a home loss payment and will be rehoused with top priority, says Twin Valley. Mr Richards added: "We are a not-for-profit organisation and have a duty to manage the stock in the best interests of our tenants."

In its transfer proposal sent to tenants in July last year Twin Valley said believed it would have to reduce the number of its properties from 10,000, to 8,000 over the next 10 years because of falling demand.