HOUSES at two gateways to Pendle’s towns are to be given a major facelift as part of a £500,000 regeneration scheme.

The ‘block improvements’ which will be carried out on properties in Leeds Road, Nelson, and Glen Way, Brierfield, will include external enhancements, repairs to the front of the homes and stone cleaning.

The work, which is subject to approval, is being funded by Elevate, Pennine Lancashire’s housing market renewal and regeneration agency.

Regeneration chiefs hailed the project, saying it will inject pride into the communities and encourage further investment.

It is hoped that the work will improve or enhance the entry and exit routes into Pendle’s towns, known as gateways.

This latest scheme is part of Pendle Council’s wider drive to regenerate the borough’s towns.

A report to the local authority’s executive committee said it would ‘maximise the impact’ of work currently underway or completed on the gateways.

Coun Sonia Robinson, executive member for housing regeneration, welcomed the initiative.

She said: “The new look will bring new pride and market confidence to the areas and encourage further investment.”

In recent years extensive work has been completed to gateway properties in Nelson and Brierfield.

Combined with investments and renewal projects such as the ACE Centre in Nelson and the new Memorial Square in front of Nelson Library, the intention is to help revitalise local towns and boost the local economy.

A £1 million improvement scheme is under way out at eight blocks of houses in Leeds Road, in the Bradley are of Nelson.

And the council recently completed a pioneering project in Every Street, Nelson, where two derelict terraces were restored and modernised.

Julie Whittaker, Pendle Council’s housing regeneration services manager, said: “I'm really pleased we’re able to make more improvements to these key areas. This adds to the impressive work already underway.”

It is now being proposed that a further £500,000 is allocated to refurbish derelict properties in Stanley Street, in the Whitefield area of Nelson.

The council also intends to spend £300,000 buying up further properties under its Improvement For Sale scheme.

Purchases will be targeted in areas where block improvement work has or will be carried out. Once improved the houses will be put up for sale.