PLANS for a 150 new homes on the edge of green belt land have been unveiled.

But the proposals have been met with criticism from a councillor and some residents in the Pole Lane area.

Leaflets have been handed delivered to homes detailing the proposed new housing estate that will feature ‘executive and affordable’ homes on land between Spring Meadows and existing housing off Rudyard Drive.

The estate will mean the construction of a new access road off Pole Lane opposite a row of 220 year-old cottages.

Chorley-based Ruttle Group is set to submit the plans to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

But planning consultant Paul Sedgwick, who has issued the leaflets on behalf of Ruttle Group, said the proposal would be submitted soon.

He said: “We are inviting local residents to voice their opinions before the plans are submitted to the council.”

But one resident living in a cottage opposite the land and who did not want to be named, said: “Everybody is absolutely furious.

“That will be a very big estate and accidents are going to happen.

“This road can’t take it.

“And it will also spoil the character of the area.”

Coun Simon Huggill, representing the Marsh House ward, said: “In Darwen, we are swamped with houses and I don’t think with the way the housing market is, we need more.

“We also need to protect every piece of green space we have in towns like this.”

In 1991 an application to build a 30-room old people’s home on the land was refused.