Pendle News Room

Pendle Enterprise And Regeneration Ltd has finished 12 new one bedroom bungalows at Carry Lane for the Peter Birtwistle Trust.

The Trust was founded by Peter Birtwistle who emigrated from the UK to Canada but left his entire fortune to provide housing for people in his home town of Colne when he died in 1927.
Pendle Council’s joint venture company with Nelson based contractor and developer Barnfield Construction called PEARL has worked with The Peter Birtwistle Trust, a registered charity and housing association.

Councillor Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council and chairman of PEARL said:
“We’ve worked in partnership to increase the number of bungalows the Trust can offer to elderly people in Colne.

“We’re delighted to hand over this very worthwhile project which gives elderly residents independent living with all the support of being part of the Peter Birtwistle Trust.

Mrs Diane Buckley aged 66, who has lived in Colne for 40 years, is one of the first residents moving in to the new development,  at Number One Birtwistle East Lemes.

She said:  “I’d been looking for somewhere to live near town for the last two to three years.  

“I was so overwhelmed when I saw my new bungalow, it was perfect with everything I needed!” She added.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, who leads on housing for Pendle said:
“We were here in March 2017 when building work was underway and it’s wonderful to see this £1.4 million development completed on target to help boost housing choice in Pendle.”

Tim Webber, Managing Director of Barnfield and a PEARL board member said: 
“We’re proud to complete our first PEARL project for elderly people. 

“The Carry Lane area of Colne is a popular place to live and this new development is next to the elegant gateway into Colne lined with Victorian townhouses,” he said.
Alan Davies, Chair of Trustees for the Peter Birtwistle Trust, said:
“The new properties will form an extension to the Trust’s existing bungalow scheme which offers a great quality of life for older people in Colne with the support, friendship and activities we offer.

“We’re thrilled we can offer 12 more bungalows so that more people can enjoy the best of both worlds.”
“More people will be able to enjoy their independence with support on site in a location that’s handy for the town centre and with outstanding views over open countryside!”  He added.

How Birtwistle East Lemes got its name
East Lemes was the name of the large house and grounds on Keighley Road which was the first acquisition of the Birtwistle Trustees in the 1950s.  The building now houses the Peter Birtwistle Trust Community Centre (which is for the use of the residents and other local groups), five flats and the Trust offices.  Alan Davies, Chair of the Trustees,  came across the name when he was researching about the Trust and the Trustees thought that it would be nice to bring the name back into use.  

The Trust built Birtwistle Close in the gardens of that large house in 1957.
For further information please contact: Sarah Lee, Principal Communications Officer, Communications, Pendle Council, Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG