Council approves new development of much needed accommodation for key workers

Blackburn with Darwen borough Council have successfully tendered a key housing site at Haslingden Road to bring forward a quality scheme of family housing which will also incorporate much needed Keyworker accommodation for staff working at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The tender attracted considerable interest as developers looked to work with the Council and East Lancashire Hospital Trust to develop the much needed new homes.

Jim Maguire, Director of Estates and Facilities at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

This is a significant and exciting step for the Trust. Securing good quality local accommodation for our workforce will help vastly with both recruitment and retention and goes a long way in supporting employees from overseas.

The Council’s Growth team worked together with the hospital to agree on the key worker element – with the aim for the site to include a mix of high quality housing with views over the reservoir with key worker apartments for NHS staff.

Following a formal tender process which ended with two very good scheme proposals the Council’s Executive Board approved the appointment of ‘KEEPMOAT HOMES’ as preferred developer.

Cllr Phil Riley the Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

The NHS and its staff have been absolutely central to all our lives since the start of the pandemic and the Council is really pleased to be able to bring forward a scheme that will provide good quality apartments for the staff at the hospital to enable them to avoid long travel journeys after days spent helping us all to keep well.

Keepmoat plan to build 150 new family homes for sale which will include 2, 3 and 4 bed homes that meet local aspiration. Alongside the family homes, Progress Housing Group plan to deliver around 150 Keyworker apartments for use by medical trainees, nurses, specialist staff and junior doctors from the Royal Blackburn Hospital and at times by staff from Burnley Hospital.

Keepmoat Homes is a major national house builder, building good quality homes across the North West. The Council looks forward to supporting them in building an ‘Exemplar’ housing scheme which will incorporate quality public realm and green spaces for new and existing residents to enjoy. Pedestrian linkages will be created to connect the new homes with existing housing areas and the Fishmoor reservoir walkways.

Gareth Roberts, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said:

We’re delighted to be announced as preferred developer for this exciting project. As a company, we’re committed to making a significant, positive impact to the local community, delivering real value to real people.

Our plan for the development is to use modern construction methods and deliver energy efficient and environmentally-friendly homes, which will be available for a range of buyers. It is also a privilege to be able to deliver new apartments for the key NHS workers at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

We’re bringing our experience to this development and, working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen borough Council and East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, we’re looking forward to starting on site and breathing new life into the area.

The planning application for the new Haslingden Road development is set to be submitted by late summer with the intention for work to start on the site early next year.