PLANS to transform the site of a coachbuilding works into 61 homes have been given the green light by a council.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee has passed plans for the building, in Whalley New Road, which will see a number of types of houses built.

It is proposed to construct a development ranging from two to five bedroom houses, in the form of town house, semi-detached and detached styles.

Councillors on the committee argued the development should be passed due to a high demand for houses.

But Councillor Alan Cottam said: "To me this land is a valuable industrial enclave that would create local jobs. It's an industrial comercial set-up and would be very useful for small units, there's a demand for them."

But the meeting heard how the site had been derelict for some time, with no interest from businesses. In the past planning permission has been granted for a health centre, car showroom and restaurant, but none have been built.

Councillor David Harling said the site was a prime target for housing developers.

"It's in the right location that people want to live in and I accept that it's a mixed area but I think the problem is, when you're looking for suitable sites for housing first is the factor that the site has been vacated for a long time."