UP to 1,500 jobs could be created at a new business park after councillors overruled officers and gave a multi-million development the thumbs-up.

It took the casting vote from planning and highways chairman Frank Connor to ensure the scheme, on the site of the former Lower Darwen Paper Mill, near to junction four of the M65, was approved.

Councillors had been asked to throw the development out because the firm behind it, Salford developer Charles Topham and Son, wants to sell off part of the site for housing.

The £3million sale of the land for 80 houses, along with grants from the North West Development Agency, would help create the business park. The land at the site has been earmarked for industrial uses in Blackburn with Darwen's Local Plan. And Darwen councillor and deputy mayor Frank Barrett told the committee allowing it to go ahead would be "like driving a horse and carriage through the document."

But Coun Dave Smith, also a Darwen councillor, said: "On the one hand, we have the policy argument which says we should refuse it, but there is so much this area would actually gain from the development.The jobs which could be created are so important and we don't know if or when another developer will come along."

Darwen councillor Paul Browne said: "The employment opportunities are there for all to see. To throw it out because it was not in a plan is ridiculous."

Coun David Fenton added: "This project has immense local support."

Chairman Coun Connor said it was important residents remembered that plans to include a leisure use in the scheme had been withdrawn by the developer. Many of the letters the council had received from residents supported the project on the grounds it would include leisure uses.

But Coun Barrett said: "These uses won't be for the disenfranchised youth of Lower Darwen, who I know need something. It would be a gym for the business people using the new centre."

However, after the vote split the committee seven-seven, Coun Connor came down in favour of the project and said: "Although it is against policy, its attractions are too compelling to refuse."

Jane Aspinall, agent for Charles Topham, said the firm was prepared to enter into an agreement which would mean no houses built on the site could be occupied until the infrastructure for the industrial estate had been put in place, along with a marketing campaign to attract new businesses.

"There is already one firm interested," she said. "They alone would bring 80 jobs into the borough."

The application will return to the committee next month when officers have drawn up a list of conditions attached to the approval.