LAND earmarked for a £22million new stadium for Darwen FC earlier this year is to be landscaped.

In April, then Darwen FC chairman Ted Ward unveiled an artist impression of the club’s planned new stadium in Robin Bank.

But the Lancashire Telegraph then revealed that the image in fact showed the 30,000 University of Tulsa American football stadium in Oklahoma which had been built in 2007.

This left residents confused over the plans for the site.

Then, in July, an injunction was obtained banning Mr Ward from the club after the former owner Kevin Henry told a court he had only been paid £20,000 of the £95,000 sale price.

Mr Henry re-took control of the club and revealed that while he had shelved Mr Ward’s plans.

When Mr Ward’s redevelopment was announced Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council put on hold plans to landscape the former gas works site.

But as the deadline for the submission of detailed documentation for the proposed stadium has passed the council has reaffirmed its intention to landscape the Robin Bank site.

For Darwen party leader Tony Melia had helped Mr Ward with the plans and suggested a site.

He said: "It's a shame that plans haven't been put in, but I believe it was due to the credit crunch and the finances.

"Ted was very genuine in his intentions.”

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment, said Robin Bank would be landscaped and added: "The site adjacent to Frederick Street is part of site capable of future development.

“It won't be included in the comprehensive landscape treatment but will be greened over and reserved for future development."

Funding was secured earlier this year, firstly to investigate which parts of the land could be used for developments or landscaping, and then to carry out rejuvenation work.

REMADE - which sees derelict land reclaimed - was set up by Lancashire County Council in partnership with the North West Development Agency.

Mr Henry has stated that he cannot rule out redevelopment of the Anchor Ground.