A TOWN centre housing development will finally be finished after a delay of almost two years.

Liverpool-based McInerney Homes started construction on the former site of Belgrave Mill, off Bolton Road, Darwen, in September 2006. The work ground to a halt in 2008 because of the troubled finanical climate, with only 44 of the 135 planned homes completed.

But from this Saturday, the developer will begin selling the new homes once again.

Sales manager Tracey Lowe said: “We’re over the moon to be returning to Belgrave Heights to finish what we’ve started.

“McInerney has invested a great deal in the development and from the work we’ve completed so far we can see the potential for a very special place to live.

“Darwen’s housing market is improving with mortgage lending criteria easing and lenders offering more realistic deals.

“We’ve already taken a reservation through our part-exchange scheme ahead of Saturday’s relaunch, which is wonder-ful news and suggests good things to come.”

Prices will start from £109,995 for an apartment and £139,995 for a three-bedroom family home.

Councillor Dave Hollings said: “You don’t want a building site on the edge of the town centre for this long, so it’s great news. It’s also great that a major national company believe in Darwen and know it’s a good place to do business.

“My only concern is that the work is restarting just as Darwen Academy is being fininished. There will be two major building sites within a few hundred metres of each other.”

McInerney Homes are still at the planning stage to build 80 homes on the former site of the Vernon Carus Mill in Hoddlesden.

Tracy Lowe said: “Once planning has been agreed we will look to begin sales and work on site.”