MORE than 100 acres of land on 15 key sites in Blackburn with Darwen borough has been identified for job creation.

The council has produced the list as part of its local plan for the Government.

The locations cover 43.5 hectares (107 acres), which should create hundreds of jobs by 2026.

A 3.3 acre site at Freckleton Street and the 1.5 acre The Wrangling will be available for development for industrial and commercial use because of the completion of the Blackburn Town Centre ring-road linking in with the Wainwright Bridge.

Three key sites at Lower Philips Road near Whitebirk, Blakewater Road and Gorse Street will be unlocked by road improvements at Furthergate.

The document also identifies the Lantern Business Park (34 hectares or 84.5 acres) in Hyndburn borough neighbouring Whitebirk as a key employment development site for residents.

Two key sites with chequered histories of planned development later abandoned part way through on Shadsworth Business Parks and the nearby Evolution Park are prime for development possibly with uses associated with the nearby Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The employment, commercial and industrial package is part of the revised local plan document for approval by the full Council Forum tonight which includes controversial plans for building 9,400 houses in the borough including up to 4,000 executive-style homes on rural sites.