A LAST-ditch bid to win £14million funding for East Lancashire’s dilapidated housing has been announced.

In March, the area’s housing market renewal (HMR) scheme was axed four years before the 15-year project was due to finish.

That left rows of boarded-up houses facing not being refurbished.

But now leaders from PLACE, the Pennine Lancashire leaders organisation, said an ‘ambitious’ bid had been tabled to enable some much needed further work to be completed.

Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson and Burnley Council leader Charlie Briggs said the cash would be vital in areas of East Lancashire which had been left ‘blighted’ by the loss of expected funding.

A £30million ‘transitional funding’ pot has been made available for the five HMR pathfinder areas in the UK and East Lancashire is bidding for £7million, with hopes of doubling that with match-funding.

Graham Burgess, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s chief executive, said: “This is an ambitious bid but even if we get only half of what we aim for it will help transform some of our areas in a very positive way.”

Coun Parkinson said: “Losing the HMR funding stream was a major blow for the area.

“However the strength of our partnerships has enabled plans to be reassessed.

“We want this bid to be successful so that we can work on areas which have unfortunately been left unfinished.

“We are actively seeking other sources of funding as the programme closes.”

Coun Briggs said: “We hope the government recognises the importance of these schemes to the area.”