Afzal Anwar and Silvia Wilson residents of Nelson thank Prince Charles for his personal commitment to the towns heritage

12.00.00am GMT Fri 9th Nov 2007

The Prince met residents in Whitefield whose homes have been sensitively restored to their former glory, as part of Elevate's housing market renewal programme.

Pendle Council and Elevate are working together to revitalise neighbourhoods while preserving Nelson's heritage, in close consultation with the local community and with input from the Prince's Foundation.

Pendle has secured initial funding from Elevate for this richly historic area of Lancashire, and almost £4 million has been invested in Whitefield since the Prince's last visit in September 2004, with considerably more investment planned.

Coun Tony Greaves, Executive Member for Housing Market Renewal, said: "We have already invested millions in the heritage based regeneration of some local streets. We now intend to do far more.

"We are working with local residents and heritage organisations to create something special - something local people will be proud of, which will gain national acclaim," he added.

More than 160 homes have been restored to their 19th century heyday, with traditional sash windows, stone cleaning, heritage designed front doors and 21st century improvements including double glazing for warmth and energy efficiency.

The next stages in Nelson's housing market renewal are the imminent launch of the Whitefield Regeneration Partnership; and a national design competition to find the best architects to convert terraced homes imaginatively and create new canalside housing which respects the area's heritage

Whitefield residents Afzal Anwar and Sylvia Wilson said: "This is our community and our homes so it's vital that we play a major role in shaping the future of Whitefield."