THE developer behind a controversial scheme for 133 new homes has pledged to make a £100,000 payment towards affordable housing and public transport.

But the move to allow the development at Pole Lane, Darwen, to go ahead despite a missed deadline for crucial paperwork has led a political leader to accuse a council planning chief of “exceeding his remit”.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Liberal Democrat leader David Foster made the accusation after planning chief Neil Rodgers opted not to refuse permission.

But chief executive Harry Catherall disagreed and said Coun Rodgers had not exceeded his authority.

In March, the planning committee approved an extension until June 25 to pay the money through a Section 106 agreement, with a condition that if the deadline was missed then planning permission would be withdrawn.

Yesterday, the council said agreement had been reached with developers Ruttle Plant Holdings and the planning department was waiting to receive the completed and signed Section 106 agreement from the solicitors.

Coun Foster said: “If they are due to sign it now, three weeks after the deadline, then the head of planning has exceeded his remit. This issue should go to the committee at Thursday’s meeting. What is the point of having a deadline if they are not going to meet it?” The controversial development was the first approved as part of the council’s plans to build up to 4,000 rural executive homes on greenfield sites to meet Government house-building targets.

Mr Rodgers declined to comment and no one at Ruttle Plant Holdings was available to comment.