Blackburn's Shadsworth estate looks set to get 68 new homes.

The flats and houses in Staffa Crescent will be the latest stage of a £20 million facelift for the 1950s council development.

Social homes provider Together Housing and its partner Place Capital Group's blueprint is set for approval by Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee when it meets on Thursday.

The 'Knuzden Gateway' proposals include 24 one-bedroom apartments, 22 two-bedroom flats, 19 three-bedroom houses, and three four-bedroom houses, all for affordable rent.

The scheme includes a new electricity substation and improvements to the nearby play area.

The new homes will be on a three-acre site cleared by the demolition of 28 vacant unfit properties.

How the new houses could lookHow the new houses could look A planning officer's report recommends councillors approve the scheme with 26 conditions despite three objections from nearby residents in Knuzden Brook.

They include loss of privacy, potential issues with drainage, additional traffic, and poor layout and design.

The report says: "Support for the application would regenerate an area of the former council estate, as part of a wider regeneration strategy through delivery of high-quality replacement and additional affordable housing; improvements to an existing play area; enhanced landscaping; and other associated works.

"The site comprises an existing residential area and amenity public open space, which includes a children’s play area.

"The open space also forms part of the Knuzden Brook (Haslingden Road) District Wildlife Site and the Arran Trail Local Nature Reserve.

"The site is adjacent to Knuzden Brook, a green corridor running through this area of Blackburn.

"The estate is currently undergoing significant investment through phased redevelopment which includes a new youth hub and upgraded community park, the demolition of Gleneagles Court, and 10 three-bedroom infill houses at Brownlow Street, Orkney Close and Brodick Road

"Investment is targeted for the site due to the sub-standard quality of the pre-existing housing and its prominent gateway location,

"A mix of one and two-bed maisonettes, as well as three and four-bed terraced houses are proposed. All would be two-storey.

"The homes have been designed to a high standard with embedded sustainable principles for energy efficiency.

"A landscaping strategy has focused on creating improved links through the open space from Staffa Crescent to the Arran Trail, Knuzden Brook and Fecitt Brow, as well as enhanced soft landscaping/planting and biodiversity uplift.

"New play equipment is proposed which would be located in a more suitable location onsite."