BUILDERS are poised to begin work on a housing estate and business park which were at the centre of a countryside protection campaign.

Bolton-based contractors William Hargreaves Ltd will move into the 10-acre, former bleachworks site at Holden Vale, Helmshore, next month.

Rossendale Council has given the go-ahead to plans to build 50 homes, including 24 two-bedroom apartments in two three-storey blocks, in natural stone to complement the rural location and nearby buildings.

The housing development by Hargreaves Homes will be situated close to local amenities and access to the A56 Haslingden bypass, and is due for completion in 2004.

At the same time, Hargreaves Construction will start work on a multi-use business park, which will consist of a range of office and warehouse units on the site, which was part of the Save Grane campaign launched by local people and members of the Grane Residents Association in the 1990s.

The Holden Vale development, which is directly opposite the Holden Vale Conference Centre and Sleigh Restaurant, will also include five new concept, live/work units - designed for fledgling start up businesses, allowing owners to cash on the financial benefits of living and working in the same building.

Gerry Sweeney, managing director of Hargreaves, said: "This combined development will bring both additional high class accommodation as well as a state-of-the-art business park to the area, providing a valuable residential and commercial resource.

"The excellent transport links will prove attractive to businesses at a time when traffic congestion is at an all-time high.

"The live/work unit concept is becoming more popular as people are choosing quality of life before money.

"This was highlighted in a recent survey which found that people would prefer to work more flexible hours than receive an extra £1,000 on their salary.

"We are constantly studying trends to design and build accommodation to meet the changing requirements and attitudes of the public."