PLANS have been approved for a 32-home development in Darwen.

The latest housing scheme comes less than a month after separate plans were submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council for 61 flats on the former Darwen Health Centre site.

Now Elite Homes has secured planning consent for 32 detached three and four-bedroom houses in Birch Hall Avenue.

The company hopes to begin building early next year.

Elite Homes said that Darwen was one of the first places it had won permission to build detached houses on such a large scale.

John Jarvis, North West sales and marketing director for Elite, said: "The homes in Birch Hall Avenue will be quality-built, traditional, family homes, each designed to ensure the best use of space.

"Families needing more room to grow, or looking for that little extra luxury, will definitely be attracted to these properties.

"We are expecting these homes to fly out once released for sale, as there are very few developments these days that are made up of only detached homes.

"It's also a great location for commuters, with Blackburn and Accrington easily accessible on the nearby motorway network."