PROPOSALS for a new multi-million pound 88-bed care home next to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal will be discussed by councillors tonight.

The two to four-storey development is on an acre of vacant land near Blackburn town centre, on the site of a demolished mill.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It is on the opposite side of the canal to the Eanam Wharf Conservation area which includes several heritage listed properties.

The L-shaped building proposed by Father McKenzie Holdings Ltd will include a ‘courtyard’ garden, canal frontage and parking for 18 cars.

It will be debated at tonight’s meeting of Blackburn with Darwen planning committee.

The parcel of land off Eleanor Street in Audley has been given previous permissions for flats dating back 12 years which have never been built.

The proposed care home, estimated to cost in excess of £4million to build, is expected to be ready for occupation within two years.

The supporting statement, by agents JWPC Ltd, said:”Internally, the building will be laid out with rooms either side of a central corridor on each floor.

“Rooms will have their own WC facilities but there will be no provision for cooking etc and therefore they are not capable for use as independent accommodation.

“Residents will use a dining and living room on each floor whilst there will be nurse stations, larger bathrooms and other ‘back of house’ facilities such as sluices on each floor.

“Each floor will have its own external terrace on the northern corner of the building, taking advantage of the views over the canal to the town centre beyond.

“This application seeks to secure the regeneration of a significant tract of vacant urban land close to the centre of Blackburn and on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.”

The home will have four storeys fronting on to the canal and two at the rear as the land rises.

It will be located between The Spice Factory and Twin Valley Homes Prospect House headquarters.

Principal planning officer Rob Buffham’s revealed in a report the council’s adult social services department’s concerns about 88 elderly people moving to the borough with a potential cost of £1.3million a year to its budget.

He recommends approval subject to a condition that residents should be from Blackburn with Darwen or have close ties to the borough. The supporting statement said the proposed care home will have good access for residents to Blackburn town centre with roads, footpaths, a footbridge over the canal but is unlikely to generate large amounts of extra traffic on the towns highway network.

JWPC was unavailable for comment.