AFFORDABLE housing developers say new proposals would help boost Blackburn's economy.

Great Places has submitted a new planning application for 56 affordable homes on land off Shakespeare Way in the town.

The brownfield land was bought by Blackburn with Darwen Council following its designation for clearance in the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) programme.

Great Places bosses say the scheme would create construction jobs during the build period as well as bringing people into the borough to support local shops, services and businesses.

A spokesman said: "New residents occupying the development would also generate demand for health, education and other services off the site (e.g. schools, hospitals, public administration), thus supporting further public-sector employment.

"The proposals would generate an additional capital receipt for Blackburn with Darwen Council via new homes bonus payments, based on the properties adding to the net supply of housing in the borough.

"Overall it is submitted that the application proposals are fully commensurate with the economic dimension of sustainable development and would represent a significant economic boost for the area

"The proposals would make a meaningful contribution to meeting housing need within the local community.

"The proposals would also result in the creation of a high-quality living environment which contains a mix of dwellings, generous areas of open space for play and recreation and would support any future community’s health, social and cultural well-being.

"It would also facilitate the creation of jobs within the local labour pool, both during construction and the operational phase.

The council is relying on the early delivery of this site to meet its housing requirements. As mentioned earlier it is the applicant’s firm intention to commence on site immediately upon a grant of planning permission to enable homes to be delivered quickly.

"The site will provide 56no. affordable housing units and should be considered in conjunction with a linked application for residential development off Redlam Brow.

The proposals comprise high quality and inclusive design, the scheme responds to the landscape within which it sits and to the surrounding residential area the type of housing and materials used.

"All the properties have been set in generously sized plots appropriate to the proportions of the house they are associated with, complementing the surrounding residential area which follows this same precedent."

Earlier this year, it was revealed another three sites have been set out for the development of affordable housing in Blackburn with Darwen.

Borough regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said Great Places Housing Association is looking at bringing forward schemes worth £8 million across the three sites – at Whitehall Road and Osborne Road in Blackburn and School Lane in Guide.

Through the growth programme, larger sites suitable to provide mixed tenure housing are being offered for disposal through either a tender or procurement exercise.

Officers work closely with private developers to identify the best disposal route to offer these sites for development on the open market.

Smaller infill sites which are identified as potentially being suitable to provide much needed affordable homes are considered for disposal to registered providers.

The site at Whitehall Road is a fairly flat 2.1 acres of land flanked by housing on two sides with Blackburn Golf Club to the north.

The Osborne Road site located off Revidge Road includes a decommissioned play area/open space alongside a small garage colony.

Similarly, the School Lane site is made up of an old garage colony which has been decommissioned along with some informal green infrastructure surrounding a terraced block of properties off School Lane.

The site is around 1.9 acres in size.