A controversial housing development on a Blackburn ‘gateway’ site has been approved despite strong objections from nearby residents and opposition councillors.

Conservatives claimed that there was insufficient provision of schools, medical facilities and highway improvements to support the 165 new properties on 20 acres of open space in Whalley Old Road, Sunny Bower.

Liberal Democrat Paul Browne told the Blackburn with Darwen planning committee debating the application for the new homes on Thursday: "There is no way that road is going to handle that traffic.

"The road system in our borough will not cope if we keep building houses like we are doing."

The project by Vistry Partnerships to provide a mix of affordable homes and two to five-bedroomed properties for sale on the open market was approved with conditions.

It is made up of new houses to be sold under the Bovis brand and affordable shared ownership homes offered by social provider Together Housing.

The estate is scheduled to be completed by 2026.

The Sunny Bower Community Group formed to oppose the development submitted an objection to the meeting which said: "We firmly believe that the current layout of the proposed development along with the proposed access points and road narrowing should be revised.

"We are not being difficult; we are being practical and realistic."

It and the nearby Blackburn Chemicals also objected over concerns about noise protection for new homeowners from industrial premises near the estate's boundaries.

Neil Lewis from Vistry Partnerships told the committee the scheme would deliver 'quality housing' for the borough and would widen choice for homebuyers in a setting with open space and landscaping.

Ewood ward Conservative Cllr Jon Baldwin said: "Where is the infrastructure? The school places, the doctors, the dentists."

But Labour's Cllr Jackie Floyd said: "I welcome this. It is going to provide good houses to help people stay in the town."

Planning manager Gavid Prescott said: "The overall scale of the proposal is considered to respond well to existing peripheral housing and to the rural fringe, thereby ensuring a sympathetic and proportionate development."

Iain Sykes, chair of the Sunny Bower Community Group, after the approval: "We firmly believe our objections on road safety grounds and noise levels for prospective buyers is completely justified.

"The fact that yet again this council ignores objections and permits yet more houses to be built than required, therefore increasing its coffers of council tax, says it all about the concern it has for the residents.”