A revised version of a pioneering 205 home housing estate with properties reserved for NHS staff close to the Royal Blackburn Hospital is set for approval.

The scheme by Keepmoat Homes is for 168 houses and 37 apartments on 16.6 acres of land bounded by Haslingden Road and Fishmoor Reservoir.

The proposal includes priority affordable flats and houses for hospital workers.

Keepmoat also promised to pay £961,772 towards new secondary school places, an extension to the St George's GP Surgery and The Cornerstone Practice, and major highway works as part of the scheme.

It is recommended for approval with 30 conditions by Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee when it meets on Thursday night, despite four objections from nearby residents.

The new proposal supersedes a previous detailed scheme approved by councillors in September 2022 for 160 dwellings and 50 affordable, key NHS worker apartments in two blocks, together with access roads and landscape treatment.

This approval of reserved matters also included a further outline permission for the erection of 100 affordable, key NHS apartments for staff at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals in four blocks.

The new detailed scheme up for debate proposes a mix of one and two bedroom flats in a single block for hospital staff and three and four bedroom houses of between two and two and half storeys in height.

An equipped play area is also included in the project.

The estate will also have a the creation of a prominent gateway access from Haslingden Road leading on to a green corridor running through the approximate centre of the site, exposing views of Darwen Tower to the south and linking to a wildlife corridor / public realm area.

In a report to councillors principal planning officer Nick Blackledge says: "The application represents changes to the full permission element of the previous approval, by replacing one block of apartments with eight single dwellings, resulting in a reduction in the total number of homes proposed, from 210 to 205.

"The outline element, although not included in this application, remains extant.

"To be clear, this is a stand-alone application. It is not an amendment to the original grant of planning permission, as the changes proposed are considered to fall outside of the scope of those that could be considered minor material amendments

"Circumstances unique to the site, being in close proximity to the hospital and the evident demand for ‘affordable’ hospital worker accommodation, rather than open market availability, also adds significant weight in support of the principle of apartments

"Priority hospital worker apartments are secured as affordable onsite housing.

"The proposed apartments will be secured as ‘affordable housing’, as will 20 of the single dwellings.

"These homes would be transferred to a Registered Provider (Great Places) upon completion. The remaining homes would be open market provision.

"The development is evidently not located in an environmentally sensitive location and is consistent with the existing residential character of the area.

"Community facilities such as a variety of eateries, royal hospital, shops, leisure facilities and religious establishments are all located within 800metres of the site.

"Due to the site’s close proximity to services and public transport, reliance on the private car will be reduced which can only have a positive impact on the environment and peoples wellbeing.

"Detailed assessment of the application finds that the proposed development corresponds with the council’s overarching housing growth strategy and delivery of a high-quality housing-led development will secured, focussed on land that is allocated for housing to the south of Haslingden Road adjacent to Fishmoor Reservoir, Blackburn."