BUILDING work has started on a controversial development to bring 58 new homes to Barrow town centre.

The affordable homes in the area around Marsh Street, Sutherland Street and Arthur Street are now being built - more than 10 years after Barrow Council began the compulsory purchase of houses in the area, something the council leader said he "still had nightmares about".

Developed by the Sheffield-based Gleeson Regeneration Ltd, the project will bring large detached houses to the town centre as well a number of affordable homes.

Barrow's mayor, Councillor Bill McEwan laid a brick on the site and welcomed the development.

He said: "It is a really big positive that this is finally getting started.

"The affordable homes will be a big help for young people and first-time buyers in the area to get on the property ladder.

"And with all those houses that we were there before going it will be something that brings the community back around there."

Statistics available through the Land Registry reveal that between 2005 and 2010 a total of 71 houses in Arthur Street in Barrow were sold. Most of the purchases were part of a Barrow Council-led scheme in 2007 to demolish around 160 terraced houses in Arthur Street, Sutherland Street and Marsh Street in a bid to attract a house builder to build on the site.

Gleeson Regeneration bought the for £302,000 and are going to build 23 properties with two-bedrooms, 15 three-bedroom semi-detached houses, 17 three-bedroom detached homes, and three properties with four bedrooms.

The new homes would offer private gardens, open frontages and at least one parking space, as well as garages as an extra – in what would be a major departure from Barrow’s traditional town centre terraces.

To help give people a leg up the housing ladder, 40 per cent of the two bedroom houses will be affordable starter homes, which is 30 per cent more than usually offered in such schemes.

Dave Pidduck, the leader of Barrow Council also welcomed the development but admitted that councillors had found it "difficult" to impose the compulsory purchase on residents.

He said: "I still have nightmares about the decision. It was an extremely difficult one but we had to weigh it up.

"It is good news that the work has finally started because some residents would have been getting anxious about the land where they used to live going to good use.

"But I am very pleased there will be new homes in Barrow town centre. Perhaps some of the residents who lived there before might like to move back."