A LANCASHIRE County Council boss has admitted Preston’s £700million expansion plans will have a ‘significant impact’ on Blackburn.

Martin Kelly, the county’s director of economic regeneration, was being questioned at the public inquiry into Preston’s Tithebarn masterplan.

The scheme is opposed by Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool council bosses, who say it is too large and will damage their own regeneration ambitions.

Opponents of the plans are keen to seize on Mr Kelly’s comments as County Hall has publicly backed the Tithebarn project.