FIVE new homes look set to be built on land near Springvale Mill in Edgworth despite a flood of complaints from residents and parish councillors.

Woodford Industries want to build the houses on land off Bury Road, once partly occupied by the mill and which is now in a derelict state.

But residents say their area is becoming overrun with new housing, meaning their village is losing its character.

The land has been earmarked for home building since 1993 and these planning guidelines were updated last year.

In a letter to Blackburn with Darwen Council, planning chiefs North Turton parish councillors say they object to the plans because they feel the site is being overdeveloped.

One resident from Bolton Road wrote: "Bury Road and Bolton Road, the two main roads through Edgworth, are currently used as rat runs to the M65.

"No provision has been made for the safety or feelings of local people."

Planning experts at the town hall are advising councillors to give the scheme the green light provided a number of conditions are met.

These are that the buildings should be built using stone rather than brick, that trees in the area should be protected during the building period and a survey to check whether the land has been contaminated.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee will discuss the project at a town hall meeting on Thursday.

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