Following extensive re-furbishment, the hostel at No.1 Queen Street has re-opened.

The £420,000 project was supported by £350,000 investment from the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Affordable Homes Programme, with Rossendale Borough Council providing the remaining funding.

The project began in March 2011, when ownership of the building was transferred from the Places for People group to Rossendale Borough Council. The majority of the building work took place last summer, while tenants temporarily moved to Springfield Court in Bacup.

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The overhaul included:

• Re-configuring the layout of the main building to provide six rooms and five emergency accommodation units - one with disabled facilities
• Installing special insulation to increase the energy efficiency of the property and noise insulation between units
• Improvement to the staff central office space and CCTV monitoring

Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West at the HCA said: "One of our priorities is to work with Councils to help provide homes and secure environments for all members of the community, including young people. It's projects like 1 Queen Street that can play a significant role in transforming young lives by offering welcoming accommodation that creates opportunities for people to build confidence and develop new skills."

(CD/GK)