New data has identified Whitehall in Darwen, Lancashire, as the area with the highest number of recorded Japanese knotweed infestations in the country. The small neighbourhood, home to around 9,000 people, has been highlighted as the worst hotspot for the invasive plant.
The findings underline the financial strain knotweed can place on homeowners. In the reported case, a new homeowner said a hidden infestation at his property could leave him facing a bill of about £15,000 to deal with the problem.
Japanese knotweed is widely feared because it can spread aggressively through gardens and create expensive maintenance issues. It is also closely linked to concerns about property values, with buyers and owners worried about the effect an infestation can have on a home’s saleability and long-term worth.
The latest figures put fresh attention on how unevenly the plant is distributed across the UK, with Whitehall standing out as a particularly severe trouble spot. For residents in affected areas, the data reinforces how costly and disruptive a knotweed discovery can become.
