The decision follows a public inquiry relating to land and properties off Clitheroe Road and King Street/Holden Road held at Nelson Town Hall in February.

Pendle Council has already bought most of the 138 terraced properties on the two sites.

It means work could start soon on a £15m. flagship new housing scheme by Miller Regeneration.

Planning inspector P.J. Asquith concluded the orders were needed to allow the redevelopment to proceed and said this would enable the "timely redevelopment of the area" and promote its "economic, social and environmental wellbeing."

He said public benefit would outweigh individual private loss and concluded it was in the public interest to confirm the orders.

The prestigious development will be Pendle's first major new housing project under the current Elevate Housing Market Renewal initiative. The development is expected to set a benchmark for future projects across Pennine Lancashire. It will also have a key role in helping to revitalise the local housing market and act as a catalyst for future investment.

Julie Palmer, the council's Housing Programmes Manager, welcomed the approval, saying: "This will kickstart transformational change in Brierfield. The development will provide a variety of new housing to meet people's changing lifestyles."

Coun. Tony Greaves, Pendle Council's Executive Member for Housing Market Renewal, said: "The new houses in this area will be a vital part of the new Brierfield. We now want to work with the developers to get on with this scheme as quickly as possible."

Notices confirming the orders will now be served. There is then a six-week period within which applications to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision could be made. If no applications are made, work will begin on demolishing the houses in phases.

Following finalisation of the development agreement between the council and Miller Regeneration, the first new homes should be built in 2009.