PLANS for a new retail park on the edge of Blackburn town centre have been approved -- as long as the developer helps sort out the concerns of neighbouring business.

DIY giant B&Q is expected to anchor the new retail park, bounded by Russell Street and Bolton Road, with a 100,000sq ft Warehouse superstore which will create up to 250 jobs.

More jobs will be created inside three smaller units designed to be used by "bulky goods retailers" such as electrical stores.

A meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee met last night to approve the scheme in principle. The developer, Henry Boot of Manchester, will have to return to the committee when exact plans have been drawn up.

The meeting was told the existing businesses on the large site -- including furniture firms Jepsons and Steve Allen Originals -- were happy to relocate as part of the proposals.

But representatives from F Phillips & Co Office Supplies, based at the junction of Bolton Road and Mayfield Street, told the committee the project could jeopardise their business's future.

They said the new development would involve making Mayfield Street a cul-de-sac, meaning the only way lorries could access F Phillips' service yard would be by reversing 30 yards up a busy road.

Planning chairman Frank Connor pledged that planning officers would speak to the developer and the office supplies firm to find a solution before the project returned to the planning committee for full planning consent in the New Year.

B&Q will keep open its existing store at the Whitebirk retail park on the outskirts of Blackburn.