Government inspectors have posed a series of queries to Blackburn with Darwen Council about its new Local Plan, which critics believe pick holes in the development blueprint.

Helen Hockenhull and Guy Davies from the planning inspectorate have written to the authority with their initial questions on the document, which covers the period up to 2037.

They highlight concerns about the borough's housing targets and the roads and health services needed to support thousands of new homes.

Iain Sykes is the chair of the Sunny Bower Community Group, created to oppose 165 new homes off Whalley Old Road in Blackburn.

He said: "The way I read it, it questions their entire house building ethos."

Cllr Paul Marrow, the Conservative group regeneration spokesman in BwDC, said: "The inspectors are asking a lot of the same questions as we have been about the lack of infrastructure, including the potential need for the council needing to plan for future health care provision.

"The inspectors also question the number of houses required by the council in the upcoming local plan, compared to the predicted population growth.

"Already in the current local plan we are building three and a half times the houses required to by the government, many on green field sites with inadequate infrastructure."

The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Phil Rile,y said: "This is not about picking holes in the Local Plan. It is a tried and tested process to examine it properly.

"We have worked on this plan for a number of years and believe it is robust and evidence based.

"I would encourage those with strong views on it to make them known to the planning inspectorate."

The letter is in preparation for a full examination in public of the plan early next year and include a section on the North-East Blackburn Strategic Housing site covering land for Whalley Old Road and Parsonage Road in Brownhill down to Whitebirk Drive.

The inspectors' dozens of questions include: "Reference is made that the anticipated population growth over the plan period would be 6,474 residents.

"This appears low compared to the level of housing growth being proposed.

"We ask the council to confirm whether this is correct. If it is not, there would likely be increased pressure on primary health care in the borough which the council would need to address in the plan.

"The plan also makes reference to the fact a new health facility may be required as part of the North-East Blackburn Strategic Housing Site.

"If it is, it should feature as a Key Development Consideration for the site. We request the council clarify the position.

"The policy permits development within the village boundaries of Edgworth, Chapeltown, Hoddlesden, Belmont and Pleasington.

"Can the council clarify whether there has been any review of the village boundaries to determine if they are appropriately defined?

"If so, are any changes to the Green Belt boundary required? Furthermore, has a capacity study been considered to demonstrate the ability of the villages to take further development?

"The National Planning Policy Framework requires that land to accommodate at least 10 per cent of housing requirement should be provided on sites no larger than a hectare, unless there are strong reasons why that cannot be achieved.

"Could the council point us to where in the evidence base this is demonstrated or provide strong reasons why the requirement cannot be met?

"Please update progress on the intended July 2022 Levelling Up Fund bid for improvements to M65 Junction 5."

The council has written back to the inspectors saying: "The council can confirm that the anticipated population growth of 6,474 residents is correct.

"Although this figure seems low compared to the level of housing growth being proposed within the Local Plan, this is because part of the housing need will see an improvement to household formation rates, which will allow a greater number of households to form without impacting on population growth.

"The assumptions around household formation rates can impact on the number of households and housing needed despite having the same population assumptions.

"The Clinical Commissioning Group’s assessment of the likely increased pressure on primary health care in the borough has therefore been correctly based on the anticipated population growth over the plan period.

"In relation to the North-East Blackburn Strategic Housing Site, the CCG has confirmed that the short-term solution for meeting additional health infrastructure needs in this area of the borough would be to utilise existing facilities, with the potential for a new health care facility to be provided on the site if required to meet longer-term needs.

"However, in order to ensure the site could accommodate a new facility if required, the council agrees that a Key Development Consideration for the North-East Blackburn site should be added to the Local Plan. This would clarify that land would need to be reserved on the site for a new primary healthcare facility.

"Overall the plan's policies promote the council’s requirements for sustainable, high quality development that meets the needs of all residents: both established residents, including the business community, and newcomers to the borough.

"The plan also makes provision to meet the housing needs of particular groups, including older people, people with disabilities, households on lower incomes and the Gypsy and Traveller community.

"The council submitted a transport bid under Round Two of the Levelling Up Fund by the deadline in early August 2022 which includes the Junction 5 Improvement Scheme.

"The council does not consider that a review of the village boundaries or a capacity study to assess the ability of the villages to take further development are necessary to undertake as part of this Local Plan.

"It identifies sufficient land through proposed new growth sites on non-Green Belt land to meet the borough’s housing requirement, with the majority of its requirement met from committed development sites within the urban boundary.

"It is therefore unnecessary to propose any removal of land from the Green Belt to accommodate additional residential development.

"The approach does allow for new development to take place within the village boundaries of Edgworth, Chapeltown, Hoddlesden, Belmont and Pleasington, and infill opportunities are available within the village boundaries that will facilitate new housing.

"The council can confirm that at least 10 per of its housing requirement can be provided on sites no larger than a hectare."