Residents of a Blackburn suburb have won their battle to prevent the conversion of a detached family house into a home to assess the parenting skills of troubled single mothers.

Gryffin House Limited want to take over the property on Moorcroft in Lower Darwen but councillors have rejected the controversial scheme.

The firm submitted a planning application to use the house for up to four families at a time for 12 weeks to perform ‘Residential Parenting Assessments’.

With more more than 20 nearby residents present Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee has turned down the proposal.

Debate on the scheme had been deferred from December's meeting after applicant Raeece Sulaman-Butt submitted late evidence.

But borough planning manager Gavin Prescott told Thursday night's meeting consideration of this submission had not changed his recommendation to refuse the bid.

A total of 49 nearby residents had objected on the grounds of transport impacts, noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour, change in the character arising from a commercial use and insufficient outdoor space.

Blackburn South and Lower Darwen councillor and leader of the borough Conservative group John Slater told the meeting: "This is a small cul de sac.

"This proposal is totally inappropriate and totally not fit for purpose.

"There is no garden and no amenities for staff. There are no local services. The children would have nowhere to play."

Planning consultant Brian Sumner, appearing for the applicant, said the council's own policy directed that the location of residential institutions such as the proposal should be in residential areas.

He said the scheme would help to meet the needs of the borough.

Mr Sumner added: "There is no sustainable and substantive reason for rejection."

Mr Prescott said: "Children’s services assert that there is no demand for the proposal in the borough.

"Its strategic commissioning consultee has offered an objection on the premise that the local authority area cannot support the likely impacts arising on public service provision.

"In this context, the proposal is considered to pose a significant risk to the extent that the quality and availability of existing public services could deteriorate.

"The proposal would represent an intensification of the use of the property, eroding the prevailing character and giving rise to potential nuisance."

After the meeting Cllr Slater said: "I am really pleased. It is the right decision. I am confident that it will be upheld if the applicant appeals it."