Former Darwen school site to be sold for housing

An area of land spanning 45 acres which was once home to Darwen Moorland High School is set to be sold for housing.

The land is currently owned by five different parties, including Blackburn with Darwen Council. It was ear-marked for development in the Council’s 2015 Local Plan

Now Vistry Partnerships has been selected as the preferred bidder for a project which would see a new neighbourhood of more than 470 homes built.

The plans include 36 homes made available for affordable rent, 110 shared ownership and 24 first homes, with Together Housing Group as the registered provider.

There will be enhanced green spaces, a play area, green corridors for pedestrians and cycling and dedicated parking for the Friends of Square Meadows (FOSM) sporting facility on the site.

The bid includes £2m of Section 106 funding to be paid by the developer for education, highways and for the Friends of Square Meadows.

The proposal to dispose of the site will now go before Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Board for approval, which meets on December 8.

Simon Jones, growth programme director at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Darwen is set to undergo massive regeneration over the next five years as part of the Darwen Town Deal, which has the potential to unlock £100m of investment.

"This site was earmarked for development in the 2015 Local Plan and we worked closely with two local agents on the masterplan for the site, boasting quality homes for market sale, affordable houses and properties at affordable rent plus a good use of the green space.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to create a new neighbourhood in Darwen and after a rigorous tender process, Vistry Partnerships has been recommended as our preferred bidder for the site."

The agents were Lea Hough & Co and P Wilson & Co who represented the five private landowners and developed the masterplan which was adopted in 2020.