The billionaire Issa brothers' property arm has submitted a planning application to develop farmland near the M65 as a new multi-million pound commercial and industrial estate which is set to create more than 1,000 jobs.

Monte Blackburn Ltd's new "Central 65" business park is on protected Green Belt countryside north of Haslingden Road and East of the motorway's Junction 5 which is being re-allocated for employment use.

The proposal is for seven modern-design units of varying sizes totalling 55,980 square metres on a 48-acre triangle of land used for sheep grazing.

The firm - behind the Frontier Park scheme near junction 6 of the M65 - estimates the development will create between 1,050 and 1,200 long-term jobs.

The site is part of a 94 acre area that Blackburn with Darwen Council is controversially proposing to re-designate from Green Belt to employment land in its emerging Local Plan due for confirmation next year.

This change has been opposed by many residents led by West Pennine ward Conservative Cllr Julie Slater who has expressed fears that radioactive waste was dumped down old mineshafts near Belthorn some distance form the proposed Central 65 development in the 1950s - a claim strongly disputed by the local authority's bosses.

The Monte Blackburn proposal involves the demolition of the agricultural buildings of Blackhill Farm.

Supporting documents submitted with the outline planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council say: "The sites location, in close proximity to junction 5 of the M65, provides substantial potential for a strategic employment, creating jobs and investing in the local area.

"The proposed site is currently within the green belt however Blackburn with Darwen Council have proposed a new local plan which has a targeted adoption date of January 2024 and allocates the site for strategy employment development as the 'Junction 5 Strategic Employment Site'.

"The proposed development will deliver a mix of employment uses for storage and distribution and industrial manufacturing.

"The development will deliver high-quality commercial buildings to boost high-skilled employment and is a key component of the authority's economic strategy over the next 15 years.

"There will be a feature landscaping gateway into the site.

"The site layout illustrates a range of building sizes to suit market requirements.

"The use of the buildings within the site will be storage and distribution and manufacturing and industrial.

"The development is currently speculative however as end users come forward the nature of the occupier and the use will ultimately dictate the scale and size of the buildings.

"The scale of the buildings will vary across the site however continuity across the design, scale and material palette will achieve a clear identity for the development.

""Curtain walling, ribbon windows and canopy details will provide a contemporary aesthetic.

"High-density woodland planting is proposed to provide screening to the buildings.

"Highway works are proposed to form a new vehicular access off Haslingden Road connecting to an inclusive estate road.

"There are improvements scheduled to junction 5 of the M65.

"The applicant has a strong track record of employment development delivery.

"Examples include the development at Frontier Park, Blackburn, and Frontier Park, Burnley.

"We anticipate that there is potential for the creation of circa 1,050 to 1,200 operational jobs.

"The proposed development will improve access to work and training opportunities by creating jobs across a range of skills levels during the construction and operational phases.

"These jobs will provide people with the opportunity to potentially engage in employment for the first time, re-enter the workforce after being out of work for a long time and boost their income.

"The proposed development will incorporate measures to maximise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

"The scheme will deliver a strategic employment site that is at the heart of Blackburn with Darwen Council's economic ambitions.

"The development has the potential to create in excess of 1,000 operational jobs (together with construction jobs) and deliver significant investment into the local area."