A RUN-DOWN area of Blackburn will get a facelift after redevelopment plans were given the go-ahead.

Barratt homes had applied to build 253 new homes on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The infirmary has been empty since the opening of the new £113 million Royal Blackburn Hospital at Queen's Park last year.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee has approved the application.