OPPONENTS of a controversial housing development have objected to the latest access arrangements for the estate.

Vistry Partnerships currently have a detailed planning application in for 165 new properties on 20 acres of green land in Whalley Old Road, Sunny Bower, Blackburn.

The scheme, due to start construction and scheduled for completion in 2026, has generated strong local opposition.

Now the Sunny Bower Community Group, created to oppose the development, have objected to updated details of the highways arrangements for the estate.

Its letter of objection says: "The initial proposal clearly shows the location of the access opposite house number 453 and 455 Whalley Old Road via a priority lane.

"This would allow free flowing traffic in both directions when vehicles are turning into the new development driving uphill from Brownhill Drive, along with allowing exit and entrance

from and into the existing Sunny Bower Road junction.

"Whalley Old Road is a already a very busy access road in and out of Blackburn.

"The increase in the number of vehicles using the road due to the new development we believe warrants the priority turning lane on Whalley Old Road into the new development as suggested by the initial Transport Assessment.

"The proposed plan submitted by Vistry shows significant differences in the proposed access and road layout to the initial Transport Assessment.

"The distance between the existing Sunny Bower Road junction and the new proposed access junction has been drastically reduced.

"The priority turning lane has been removed.

"Whilst we have been continuously pressing for traffic calming measures, we fail to understand the logic in creating a bottleneck on Whalley Old Road to provide that traffic calming.

"The relocation of the access junction along with the removal of the priority turning lane will create queues of traffic travelling up Whalley Old Road behind cars trying to turn into the new development.

"The proposed reduction in road width will absolutely bring Whalley Old Road to a standstill."

A spokesman for Vistry Partnerships said: "We have liaised closely with the council’s highways department regarding our proposals and they have raised no concerns with the submitted access arrangement nor the proposed works to Whalley Old Road."

Gavin Prescott, planning manager for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Outline planning permission has been granted to build new homes on this site.

“This new application has now been received and is being fully assessed by the council, including our planning and highways teams.

“We have recently received an objection from the Sunny Bower Community Group around the proposed access off Whalley Old Road and this will be fully considered and presented to members of the council’s planning committee who will determine the outcome of the application.”