New Blackburn homes bring NHS staff closer to work

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-14 19:40 3 min read

Modern red brick terraced housing estate in the United Kingdom under a blue sky.

By the demoduck.co.uk news team | 14 August 2026

Nurse Salima Akuji welcomed visitors into her new apartment as Attlee House opened opposite Royal Blackburn Hospital. Her home is one of 37 social-rent apartments giving eligible NHS employees a more affordable place to live just a six-minute walk from work.

The completed block is already fully occupied by staff from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Employees of the trust were prioritised for the apartments, which form Blackburn with Darwen’s first affordable housing scheme of this kind for NHS workers.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Councillor Phil Riley joined residents and representatives from Great Places Housing Group, Homes England and Keepmoat for the official opening. The council’s news service published details of the event on Friday, 14 August 2026.

Secure tenancies within walking distance of the hospital

Great Places said Attlee House has attracted a wide range of hospital employees. Alongside lower-cost social rent, the provider highlighted the security of tenure offered to residents—something it said many of the tenants had not experienced previously.

New Blackburn homes bring NHS staff closer to work

That combination of affordability, stability and proximity can remove some of the practical strain associated with travelling to work and finding a suitable long-term home. It also places staff close to Royal Blackburn Hospital without requiring them to rely on a lengthy daily commute.

The published information does not include figures measuring staff retention or resident wellbeing, so those effects cannot yet be quantified. What the completed scheme demonstrates is that housing provision has been directly targeted at the workforce of a major local healthcare employer, with all 37 apartments already occupied.

Riley said the council had insisted from the beginning that key workers should receive priority. Recalling the response of one resident, he said: “You haven’t built new houses here, you’ve created much-needed new homes.”

More than £12 million committed to Attlee House

Great Places invested more than £8.6 million in the affordable apartments. Homes England supplied a further £3.8 million through the Affordable Homes Programme, placing the confirmed funding behind Attlee House above £12.4 million.

Nick Gornall, Great Places’ director of growth, said the partners had worked together to identify eligible East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust staff. With the block fully occupied, he said it was already supporting key workers who provide services across Blackburn with Darwen.

The development also provides a route into shared ownership for some residents. Great Places reported that deposits for homes offered through Plumlife Homes started from £2,800, while privately owned properties are being delivered by Keepmoat.

Attlee House forms part of a 205-home neighbourhood

Attlee House sits within the wider Water’s Edge development beside Fishmoor Reservoir, off Haslingden Road. The neighbourhood is planned to contain 205 homes across private ownership, shared ownership and affordable tenures, including 57 affordable homes in total.

The mixed-tenure design means NHS staff are not housed in an isolated development. Instead, the apartments form part of a larger residential area being built by Great Places, Keepmoat and Plumlife Homes.

Energy use has also shaped the construction. Attlee House uses an all-electric energy system, while homes elsewhere at Water’s Edge include photovoltaic panels, electric-vehicle charging points, enhanced insulation and high-performance glazing intended to reduce energy consumption and household costs.

Source: Blackburn with Darwen Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report is based on the council news account of the opening, with funding, occupancy and development figures checked against the supplied source.

Checks

Confirmed that Attlee House contains 37 social-rent apartments.
Checked that eligible East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust employees were prioritised.
Verified the reported £8.6 million Great Places investment and £3.
Distinguished the 57 affordable homes from the wider development's planned 205 homes.

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