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The residents of a problem-plagued new housing estate on a main road into Blackburn have taken their complaints about the developers direct to a full meeting of the borough council.
Householder on Meadowbrook Rise Javed Iqbal questioned the authority's growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood about the safety risks he said homeowners were facing on the development on Haslingden Road being built by Heron Homes Limited and Southworth Construction Limited. Mr Iqbal told Thursday night's Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum meeting: "Residents of Meadowbrook Rise are facing serious and ongoing problems caused by the developer's failure to meet basic obligations.
"These include fraudulent warranties, unsafe and unfinished roads and pavements, the complete absence of street lighting, hazardous waste left on site, and unadopted drainage and sewer systems that may not meet proper standards. These failures put our health, safety, and security at risk every day and raise serious about why effective enforcement action was not taken sooner by the council.
"Our single and urgent question is this: what immediate and practical steps will the council now take using its enforcement powers, financial securities and any other available mechanisms to hold the developer accountable and ensure all essential works and obligations on Meadowbrook Rise are finally completed to a proper standard. The scale and seriousness of these issues means that a simple written response is not enough.
"We urgently request a private meeting with the executive member responsible so that residents can set out the full extent of our concerns and the council can explain how it intends to protect us and deliver the estate as we were promised. We cannot continue to live with these risks and uncertainties as identified.
"A clear plan of action is needed now."
Cllr Mahmood, who said he was happy to have a private meeting with residents, replied: "Firstly, the council fully sympathises with the residents who are facing problems on this private housing site. Since the development started in 2018, the council has carried out many enforcement actions.
"This has involved the serving of Breach of Condition Notices relating to drainage details, boundary treatments, retaining structures and remediation of contaminated land. A Temporary Stop Notice was also served relating to unauthorised raised platforms which were constructed on several plots, which have now been removed and dealt with.
"In addition, since the developer confirmed that they intended to maintain the internal roads as private roads (not to be adopted by the council), the council has been highlighting this to house buyers through local searches, to be noted by conveyancers and buyers during the house-purchase process. Also, a prosecution of Heron Homes regarding fly tipping has been progressed by the Council and is due to be heard at Preston Magistrates Court on November 5 2025.
"The council understands that the Environment Agency is also investigating this issue; and any health and safety issues have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive. The council is seeking legal advice on next steps, but as you will appreciate, these details cannot be shared openly at this stage.
"Please note that the council is taking this matter very seriously and has done, regularly visiting the site and acting on issues raised wherever it is within the council's powers to do so. The homeowners should also seriously consider their options, such as approaching their conveyancing solicitors, warranty provider, insurance company or looking into collective action."
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