New pond for controversial housing estate

A highly controversial near-600 home housing estate in Blackburn is to get a new pond as part of a drainage and layout reorganisation.

The scheme at Bank Hey Farm by Persimmon Homes Lancashire was given permission by Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee in July last year.

This was despite Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater telling the meeting the development was too big for roads, health services and schools to cope with.

It generated more than 360 objections from residents and a July 2023 march by opponents through Blackburn to the Town Hall to protest at plans for 121 acres of mainly grazing land between Heys Lane and Bog Height Road.

And in July Blackburn South and Lower Darwen ward’s Cllr Slater took their protest to the meeting as it granted full planning permissions for 553 homes and outline approval for another 45.

But on Thursday night councillors on the borough planning committee approved the new attenuation pond and changes to the layout and design of some of the properties despite objections from three nearby residents living on Clayton Way over privacy, overlooking and environmental damage.

The amendments to conditions imposed on the original planning permission include the addition of a pond, changes to some house types, and amendments to the layout of some plots on the estate which is currently under construction.

It also replanned an area of the approved site adjacent to Clayton Way, specifically to plots 356 – 395, as well as creating an additional and amended drainage attenuation ponds.

Jack Callaghan from Persimmon Homes’ agents Maybern Planning and Development says the changes were minor and the new ponds would boost diversity as well an improving drainage.

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith said that looking at the plans it was hard to sot the differences.

Planning manager Gavin Prescott reassured Ewood Cllr Jim Casey the would be a proper buffer to screen homes in Clayton Way from houses on the new estate.

Objectors claimed building work based on the revised plans had already started creating a muddy mess in the area.

Persimmon Homes has agreed to pay and additiona £7,556,401 for highway improvement works and sustainable transport initiatives; additional primary school places in West Blackburn; additional General Practice capacity at Griffin Lodge (or an alternative local facility); and improved sports facilities.

The estate is located on the southern edge of Blackburn 600 metres west of junction 4 of the M65.

The western boundary is formed by Heys Lane, beyond which lies agricultural land and then the Gib Lane development. The southern boundary of the site is formed by Bog Height Road.