Plans for 149 homes outside Feniscowles set for approval

The controversial scheme is the next two stages of Kingswood Homes' Green Hills development of more than 400 properties on former grazing land outside Feniscowles.

It comprises 112 affordable homes (53 rental and 59 shared ownership) and 37 open market homes, with associated infrastructure, landscaping, and open space.

The proposals submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council in July revised a previously approved scheme in the light of changing market conditions to include more smaller and affordable homes, mainly semi-detached and terraced houses.

They include an additional 72 properties on the 12.4-acre site

How bungalows on the site would look Now, Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee has been recommended to approve the new blueprint for land off Horden Rake when it meets on Thursday.

The scheme is phases eight and nine of the Green Hills development, the initial phases of which were originally conceived by Blackburn-raised design guru Wayne Hemingway, who is no longer involved in the project.

The flagship estate is part of the council's Gib Lane Masterplan, which is seeing hundreds of new homes built on the outskirts of the town.

A planning officer's report to councillors recommends the granting of planning permission with 25 conditions, including a payment from Kingswood Homes of £386,124.

The site would contain almost 150 homes This Section 106 contribution would used for additional primary school places in Blackburn South, Blackburn West and/or Blackburn East pupil planning areas and/or secondary and/or places for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across the borough, and new infrastructure for Witton Medical Centre, Blackburn.

The recommendation for approval is made despite 68 objections from Livesey with Pleasington ward's Cllr Mark Russell and nearby residents.

Their concerns include claiming an over-development of the area for housing, and worries about road safety, traffic generation and drainage.

Several complaints focus on the state of Broken Stone Road and Hordern Rake, described by one objector as 'horrendous'.

Smaller homes make up the houses to meet market demand The mix of homes proposed is 23 two-bedroom houses, six of which are bungalows; 69 three-bedroom properties; and 57 four-bedroom houses.

The developer will work with the Together Housing Group (TGH) to provide affordable homes, of which 59 will be shared ownership homes, 53 offered for rent to people in employment, and the remaining 37 to be sold by Kingswood on the open market.

Two will be sold as First Homes at a discounted price.

The report to the meeting says: "The previously approved development is a mix of three-bed and six-bed homes, with a focus on larger, executive-style homes.

"A significant change in local market conditions has decreased demand for this type of housing.

"Areas of green space and a central thoroughfare, identified as the Linear Park, are proposed.

"Overall, a high-quality, design-led development is proposed, which would sit as a complementary addition to the existing Green Hill phases.

"Importantly, the development would be delivered by Kingswood Homes ensuring no drop-off in design standards.

"Moreover, the development would meet the requirements of the local market, through the delivery of quality affordable homes, to be future managed and maintained by TGH."