THE planning blueprint to develop industrial and housing sites, including up to 4,000 executive rural homes, across Blackburn with Darwen borough has been approved by the government.

Council regeneration boss Phil Riley said the Whitehall endorsement of the Local Plan was ‘tremendous news’.

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He said it would prevent the ‘free for all’ with developers applying for planning permission for housing on greenfield sites that dogged neighbouring Ribble Valley for years until its core strategy was confirmed in December.

Council Tory group leader Mike Lee agreed but questioned the choice of some of the sites earmarked for homes.

The blueprint identifies land that has the potential to be developed over the period up to 2026 and sets out the policies against which planning applications will be assessed by the council.

It meets government targets for housing and other developments over the decade.

During a lengthy examination of the scheme, the government’s planning inspectorate ordered the council to bring forward the target date for some housing developments.

Under the scheme published in March 2103, greenfield sites covering 1,200 acres of countryside on the outskirts of Blackburn and Darwen were targeted for 4,000 executive-style homes.

Land to the north and west of Blackburn and around Darwen was identified as suitable for larger luxury properties.

The ten sites cover 1,198 acres of which 593 are currently ‘green belt’.

The council has to meet targets of 9,400 new properties in the next 15 years.

Critics have condemned the plans as threatening the borough’s country borders .

Cllr Riley said: “It is now up to commercial companies to come forward with schemes but several planning applications have already come forward for key sites.”

Cllr Lee said: “It’s good news that the local plan has been approved but I am not happy about some of the sites chosen for development.”