MORE than 5,500 new homes are needed in Pendle, according to a report that has been published this week.

The Core Strategy Development Plan for the district has been modified – with the major change being to increase the number of properties being built every year.

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Over a 19-year period, from 2011 until 2030, the document written by Pendle Council officers says provision will have to be made to deliver 5,662 houses, which is an average of 298 a year.

The priority areas listed for this regeneration are Brierfield Canal Corridor, the Railway Street area in Brierfield, Whitefield in Nelson, Bradley in Nelson, and South Valley near Colne – with 70 per cent in the M65 corridor, 18 per cent in the towns of West Craven and 12 per cent in Rural Pendle.

The report also suggests that 40 per cent of all the new properties in Pendle should be ‘affordable’.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, the new leader of Pendle Council, said: “It’s quite clearly a challenging target.

“One of the main things I will be looking at is affordable housing for those hard-working families who cannot afford to buy a home.

“Some families just can’t afford to buy and with the help of our MP we will be looking for funding to help from central government.”

The report also takes into account changes to national policy – the government introduced the Starter Homes Initiative in March which aims to provide young first-time buyers with the opportunity to buy a new home at a price below the market value.

There will also be a continued emphasis on using existing plots and The Brownfield Regeneration Fund will see the council spend £1.5 million on priming brownfield sites for development.

The report said: “The main risk to housing delivery in Pendle is the continued impact of the economic recession, and how this continues to impact upon financial institutions, the construction industry and the local housing market.

“Of particular concern is the area’s ability to offer sites for housing that are both attractive to the market and economically viable for developers to bring forward.

“Projected increases in population and housing, together with a need to improve economic prosperity across the borough, require new opportunities for economic growth to be delivered as early as possible in the plan period.

“This will provide greater certainty for developers and businesses looking to invest, putting the borough in a position to benefit from new investment as the national economy starts to improve.”

A review of the commercial property market also indicates that there is a shortage of modern industrial units within the M65 corridor.

The consultation documents are now available to be inspected on the council’s website as well as at libraries all across Pendle.