LEYLAND-based New Progress Housing Association has just finished work on the 250th house to be built in the South Ribble area.

When the organisation was set up in 1994 to take over all the borough's housing it pledged to build 250 new homes for the council within five years.

They met their target when eight houses and bungalows were completed in Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, in a £360,000 scheme to replace older properties in need of repair.

New Progress marked the achievement with a presentation to the Read family, who are now living in the 250th property.

David Read, his wife Ann and their three young daughters Gemma, Natalie and Louise are delighted with their bungalow, as it has been designed for wheelchair use - to allow six-year-old Gemma, who needs to use a wheelchair, to move around the home easily.

The Reads were presented with a 250th celebration cake and a giant door key at their new home.

Councillor David Snape, South Ribble housing committee chairman, said: "I am very proud to stand here at the 250th home to be built for South Ribble. I was also there when the first one was completed."

He congratulated New Progress on achieving the target and said that, in the beginning, there had been doubts that it could be done.

Eddie Gray, Progress Housing Group chairman - the parent company of New Progress - said: "The 250 target was daunting, but now we have achieved it and can look back with satisfaction."

He said that the association was committed to all the promises it has made when it began and continuing its relationship with South Ribble. The new homes at Bamber Bridge include six family homes and two bungalows with wheelchair access.

The contractors were Marland Brothers and the scheme was funded by a housing grant from South Ribble Council and private sector finance raised by New Progress.

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