THE inclusion of affordable flats for NHS key workers in a new housing estate was hailed as a boost for recruitment at the Royal Blackburn Hospital as they granted planning approval for the scheme.

The comments were made at Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee on Thursday night.

The meeting unanimously granted permission for the he 310-property estate by Keepmoat Homes and the Progress Housing Group on land opposite the hospital.

The scheme includes 150 apartments reserved for NHS key workers to be built in two phases of 50 and 100.

has been recommended for approval by councillors.

The estate will also have 160 family homes for sale and 150 two-bedroomed flats for key workers at the hospital and its Burnley General counterpart.

It includes a prominent feature gateway off Haslingden Road, in two phases and two, three and four-bedroomed houses spread across16.5 acres grassland bounded by Haslingden Road and Fishmoor Reservoir.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration boss, said: "This is a good scheme as it will enhance the hospital by offering nearby affordable housing for use by the staff many of whom travel in from nearby towns.

"The hospital finds it hard to recruit and this will ease the problem.

"It is exactly what we need.

"It will facilitate the attraction of staff who will not have a long journey to the hospital."

Ewood ward's Cllr Jim Casey said: "What's not to like.

"It is an excellent proposal.

"It will help recruitment of staff for the hospital.

"People will want to come and work in Blackburn."

Conservative regeneration spokesman Cllr Paul Marrow and Ewood Tory Cllr John Baldwin also backed the scheme and its beneficial impact on staff recruitment and retention at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

But they expressed concern about parking and traffic on the local road network.

This was echoed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Browne who said: "There is already loads of traffic on Haslingden Road. Can the road system take more cars?"

Blackburn South and Lower Darwen Conservative Cllr Jacquie Slater said: "This is a wonderful scheme."

Cllr Riley pointed out that Keepmoat had agreed a developer contribution payment to the council of £1.3million towards improving local roads and providing new school places.

The scheme was approved despite 10 objection revolving around potential flooding, drainage, impact on wildlife, loss of views and overdevelopment.

Brian Seddon of nearby Britten Close told the meeting the scheme was 'an overdevelopment of the ' and asked for fewer homes to be built there.