A development of dozens of new properties will now be '100 per cent social rented homes'.

Original plans for the development at Queen's Park were given the official 'green light' in 2019 when nearly 60 homes were deemed 'old-fashioned' and were set to be demolished by developers Home Group.

The plan was to build dozens of new ones in their place however demolition of some remaining properties was delayed due to the discovery of bats.

The full demolition was finally completed in late 2022 however work at the site doesn't appear to have progressed.

Millom Town Council shared a letter sent to them by the developers on its Facebook page to address the 'lack of progress.

We have sought to appoint a main contractor to undertake the development," it said.

"Unfortunately, the market response to our tender invite was limited to only one tender bid being received and resulted in a delay to programme delivery.

"Over the past year, we have therefore taken the opportunity to review the scheme to ensure the proposals are still viable and respond appropriately to the current local housing market.

"This has resulted in a change in our approach; we are now proposing to deliver a 100% social rented development and removing open market sale units from the plans.

"This is in direct response to the housing needs of Millom, as also identified by the town council.

"As I am sure you appreciate, there are some challenges related to this which we are currently working through, but we have now successfully completed a procurement process and are working with the preferred contractor (Thomas Armstrong) to help develop an updated scheme design that can be delivered within the set budgets and to progress necessary revisions to planning approvals as soon as possible.

"We appreciate the delay in bringing forward the scheme has provided uncertainty and frustration, but we now feel we have an improved proposal that we can bring forward pending all statutory approvals.

"We will be happy to share our updated proposals and programme with members as they become finalised and will continue to maintain the empty site in the interim."