CONTROVERSIAL plans for 138 new homes have been approved despite fears the roads will not be able to cope with extra traffic.

Blackburn with Darwen Council planners have approved the McDermott Homes development on land off Cranberry Lane in Darwen despite widespread opposition to the development.

More than 100 letters of objection were received and Sudell ward councillor Paul Browne said it was the wrong place to build houses.

“It’s not necessary,” said Cllr Browne. “The road network up there will not take it. People don’t want this development and there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough.

“I know they have to build houses but there are other places they can go. To me, it’s nonsense - planning gone stupid.”

The development which will be made up of 94 four-bedroom homes and 44 three-bedroom homes on greenfield land at Kirkhams Farm, between Cranberry Lane and Jacks Key Lodge, will now go ahead.

The plans are a bigger version of a scheme to build 110 houses which was granted planning permission by the council in September 2015.

The new scheme added 28 homes despite complaints from residents and councillors about the previous application.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said: “The proposed scheme has been designed to respect the existing residential dwellings on the northern and eastern boundaries in relation to privacy and distance.

“The development has been formed into two defined character areas which are bound together by a central green open space.

“Several green spaces are proposed within the development. These include a wide strip of public green space running around the south western area of the site.

“The site benefits from god access both in and out of Darwen via regular bus services with the nearest stops located on Cranberry Lane about two minutes away.”

A report compiled by PWA Planning found that while the development will change the landscape of the area, with the loss of open land, it represents a logical extension to Darwen.