A hybrid planning application was granted in May for 435 homes, including existing contemporary style properties, along with a range of more traditional looking designs to cater for a diverse mix of purchasers.
Kingswood will support the continued growth of the neighbourhood by investing £4 million in the community. The SME developer is providing land valued at more than £3 million for a new primary school and has pledged £850,000 towards new primary school places. The company will also make a £150,000 contribution towards provision of off-site affordable housing.
Kingswood Homes managing director Paul Jones said: “The vision of a sustainable village in Blackburn has become a reality at Green Hills. It’s fast become a desirable neighbourhood where people aspire to live. We’ve welcomed more than 125 homeowners to date and have committed to delivering hundreds more homes with this latest land acquisition.”
Rule Five Land were the promotors for the site and have worked closely with Kingswood Homes throughout the purchase of all earlier phases of the Green Hills development.
The recently acquired land will deliver a range of properties including two-bedroom bungalows, plus semi-detached and detached homes with three to six bedrooms.
“We have designed a new range of house types for this part of Green Hills that will potentially appeal to a slightly different demographic of purchasers than earlier phases of the development,” Paul added.
“The new Homestead range draws upon the local vernacular and heritage of Blackburn, with a nod to features of the Georgian era which was popular during the peak of the town’s growth. We will also be introducing bungalows for the first time, in the later phases of Green Hills. We’re aware there is a particular demand for bungalows in the area, given that few developers build them as a general rule.”
The topography of the site provides opportunities for broad panoramic views of the West Pennine Moors and prominent landmarks, such as the wooded hills of Hoghton Tower and Billinge Hill, Pendle Hill to the north and Darwen Tower to the south.
The new phases will include housing reflecting the Pennine vernacular, with scope for contemporary architectural accents, plus homes built using red brick, slate grey coloured roofs, accents, and render.
Work on these homes is due to begin this autumn and is expected to take more than seven years to complete.
The homes will be interspersed with numerous areas of incidental and informal open space. There will be a more formal open space around a feature oak tree, plus meandering paths and a Sustainable Urban Drainage system including swales and basins.
Green Hills recently made headlines after Kingswood gifted a three-bedroom home to Derian House Children’s Hospice in the Great Big House Giveaway; while site manager Daniel Cato is a Pride in the Job “Quality Award” winner and the Dovecote 4 show home has been shortlisted in the Housebuilder Awards.