CONTROVERSIAL plans from Tauheedul to build a new primary school in Blackburn are set to be rubber stamped this week after developers came to an agreement with the council.

Plans for the 630-place Olive Primary School, in Meins Road, Beardwood, were initially approved in February but the decision was awaiting the signing of a financial agreement between the developers and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The £40,000 deal was to offset an objection from Sport England, who wanted community access to the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) at the school.

With that access not being provided, the £40,000 lump sum would instead allow the council to improve playing facilities off site.

But the £5million scheme was subjected to further delays when solicitors acting on behalf of BMI Healthcare, the operator of the nearby Beardwood Hospital, wrote to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government urging them to call the decision in because they believed the Sport England objection had been ignored.

The council presented their case to the National Planning Casework Unit (NPCU), and in a report on the issue, Brian Bailey, the council's director of regeneration, said: "It was confirmed that the key point relating to the recommendation...was made in light of Sport England's written comments dated November 10, 2014 and subsequent telephone discussions between council officers and their representative.

"The conclusion of these discussions was that Sport England would remove their objections to the planning application on the signing and completion of a Section 106 agreement, and the formal issue of a planning permission which includes mitigation for the loss of the playing fields.

"Officers also believed that the discussions between the council and Sport England relating to mitigation covered the potential conflicts associated with community use of the MUGA with residential amenity, and that Sport England agreed that in such circumstances the contribution of £40,000 towards off site playing improvements would be sufficient mitigation."

The NPCU wrote to the council in May to confirm the Secretary of State had decided not to call in the application.

The Section 106 agreement was signed on June 4, and a formal decision notice granting permission for the school will be issued on Friday (June 19).

A spokeswoman for Tauheedul Education said: "Olive School is delivering outstanding education to children in the area and we want it to be the jewel in the crown of the community.

"We're delighted the scheme will be going ahead, and we will keep working closely with local schools, residents and parents as it is developed."