AN event to mark the next phase of a £40 million housing development scheme in west Accrington has been held.

Project Phoenix will see a new neighbourhood built to the south of Blackburn Road dubbed Phoenix Place.

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A total of 103 two, three, and four-bedroom houses, and bungalows, will be built, it has been announced.

The majority will be sold privately, although 20 homes dotted throughout the development will be set aside for social housing.

The first two phases of the scheme, the result of a partnership between Keepmoat Homes, Hyndburn Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and the Great Places Housing Group, has already seen over 100 new homes built.

It has been lauded as an improvement in the west Accrington and Church neighbourhood, which has historically suffered from low demand for housing, abandonment, and deprivation.

And to celebrate the milestone, the partners held an event to mark the unveiling of a new show home on the scheme.

Councillor Clare Cleary, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, said: “The council is delighted that Keepmoat continue to deliver high quality, affordable homes with the support of the council, Great Places Housing Group and the Homes and Community Agency.

“The improvements we now see in the West Accrington neighbourhood can be truly described as transformational and feedback from the community is very positive.”

Gareth Roberts, operations director for Keepmoat Homes, said: “I am immensely proud of our achievements to date within West Accrington and Church and look forward to continuing that track record on Phoenix Place.

“Interest seems to be growing in the development and, given its prominent location on a key route into Accrington, it is an attractive gateway into the town.”

The previous two phases of the scheme saw the development of over 100 new homes, which offered both local residents and newcomers to the area a wider range of housing quality in the area.

The area has previously suffered from socio-economic deprivation.