Further empty home clearance will soon be underway in Griffin

Houses which have stood empty for years will be demolished to make way for a new development in the Griffin Regeneration area.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has reached agreement with two of the remaining owners to purchase their houses on Hancock Street and Stansfeld Street, allowing the Council to move closer to securing a developer who will provide new housing on the demolished site. This will contribute to the creation of a better housing market and to increase the range of available housing in the area.

The Council declared a renewal area in Griffin in September 2010 which saw a programme of refurbishment of privately owned homes and the acquisition of some homes for demolition using funding from the governments Housing Market Renewal Programme.

A total of 165 homes were programmed for demolition with the majority purchased by the Council between 2011 and 2015.  However, a block of housing on Hancock Street and a part block on Stansfeld Street have stood empty and derelict due to the fact that agreement could not be reached with the owners.

Agreements have now been reached and the remaining eyesore properties will now be able to be cleared allowing the Council to move forward with site assembly for the development of new housing in the area.

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

This is a really positive step taking us closer to a new development in this area. These homes have stood empty for a long time and removing them means we can start talks with possible developers and bring more affordable housing to the borough.”