A TOP Government minister has been urged to visit rundown parts of Burnley to help boost a bid for housing cash.

Council leader Coun Charlie Briggs is demanding Housing Minister Grant Schapps visit Daneshouse and Stoneyholme during an expected North West trip later this summer.

Hundreds of home have been bulldozed between Colne Road, New Hall Street and Old Hall Street, under the former Elevate regeneration programme.

But redevelopment proposals stalled after housing partner Gleesons withdrew from a deal with the borough council nearly two years ago.

Town hall bosses are also set to launch a £3million bid to assist with a major acquistions and clearance programme, in Daneshouse, Burnley Wood and south-west Burnley.

Coun Briggs said the idea came during recent Westminster discussions with Communities Minister Eric Pickles over Whitehall’s New Homes Bonus programme.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I told him that he had got it wrong - these terraced houses are not like the ones in Kensington and Chelsea.

“They are not capable of being done up or refurbished, you cannot just put new bathrooms or kitchens in them. They have come to the end of their useful life.

“I asked if he could visit Burnley but I understand that Grant Schapps, the housing minister, is visiting Pendle soon and I will invite him to tour these areas.”

Councillors are to discuss plans to bid for ‘transition’ funding from the government, when the executive meets next week.

The funding is available to all of the former Pathfinder housing regeneration areas around the country.

But only one bid is likely to succeed from each location and there are several other unfinished schemes in East Lancashire.