The flagship housing estate off the M65 where 4 bed homes ‘won’t sell’

A major housing developer has abandoned plans to build additional four-bedroom homes at a multi-million-pound estate in Blackburn, citing poor sales of the larger properties already constructed. Cheshire-based Elan Homes initially planned 76 homes on the site of the former Lower Darwen Paper Mill, split between two plots near Greenbank Terrace and Milking Lane.

The first phase, dubbed “Tower Gardens,” delivered 45 homes, but sluggish sales prompted a rethink. The developer has now gained approval from Blackburn with Darwen Council to swap some of the larger homes slated for phase two with smaller two-bedroom units, boosting the total from 76 to 83 across the 8.64-acre site near Junction 4 of the M65. The broader “Mill Bank” project also includes commercial units and a new spine road.

A report by planning manager Gavin Prescott, presented to the council’s planning committee on Thursday night, noted that the site was originally greenlit for up to 100 homes. However, Elan Homes sought to adjust the south-eastern plot after finding the four-bedroom homes hard to shift. “The applicant explained that they’re re-planning to shrink some units, aligning the mix with sales interest,” the report stated. “This shifts the southern plot from 31 to 38 homes, lifting the overall total from 76 to 83.”

The spine road linking Greenbank Terrace and Milking Lane is fully operational, and most commercial units are complete. The northern plot (45 homes) remains unchanged, but the southern plot’s revisions reflect market realities. “We’re tweaking some larger approved homes into two-bedroom ones to match demand,” the report explained, noting the total remains well below the 100-home cap.

Elan Homes detailed their struggle in a statement: “While building the north-western parcel (Plots 1-45) went smoothly, sales have been tough, especially for the four-bedroom homes. As of now, only eight of the 45 plots in this phase are occupied.” The approved changes aim to better tailor the development to buyer preferences.

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