TWO major housebuilders are set to start work on a 450 home housing estate in Blackburn.

Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes are gearing up to begin construction on the site off Broken Stone Road in Feniscowles, in the next few weeks.

The eyesore site received outline permission for up to 450 new homes in July, 2019 after a long history of failed schemes including a golf course and a holiday village.

The land has also been blighted by fly tipping.

Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes will deliver 225 properties each on the site previously owned by Black Pearl Homes.

But the news of imminent building work, which follows approval being granted for a detailed scheme Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee, being granted has been greeted with dismay by the Fensicowles and Cherry Tree Residents Association.

A spokesperson said: "Our concern is over the lack of infrastructure.

"We need new schools for the 800 to 1,000 children who will come to all these new houses.

"We need a new health centre for the families who will live there. Currently we only have half a GP for the whole area.

"Broken Stone Road, which is essentially a country lane, needs widening and pavements installed."

Kingswood Homes are building 435 properties on the other side of Broken Stone Road - one of several large housing developments in the area under the council's Gib Lane masterplan.

Taylor Wimpey’s section of the new development will be called 'Riven Stones' and Barratt Homes estate is named 'Bernets Nook'.

The new homes will be a mix of 270 detached four and five bed houses and 180 semi-detached three-bedroomed properties.

The two firms have agreed financial contributions to support the local area and the borough.

They include £750,000 towards the provision of affordable housing in Blackburn, £2.4million towards education in the area, £350,000 towards green infrastructure and £26,000 towards road safety improvements.

Nikki Waud, land and planning manager for Taylor Wimpey Manchester, said: “We are very excited.

“We are committed to creating long lasting communities and this development will deliver a range of housing to meet the local need.

"We are confident that the new development will bring a lasting positive impact to the area and we look forward to starting work later in the spring.”

Neil Goodwin, managing director of Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Taylor Wimpey Manchester on this substantial development, following the success we have previously achieved with them.

“As the development progresses, we will look forward to underpinning a number of jobs for local people and investing in the local communities.”