HUNDREDS of homes could be constructed in Blackburn after a £85,000 grant was awarded to explore the potential development idea.

The cash has been given to the Together Housing Group to examine the housing possibilities of a parcel of 'difficult' land around Roman Road and Fishmoor Drive.

In January 2015 it was one of 15 derelict sites across East Lancashire identified by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire to the government for possible residential development if Whitehall cash was available.

The grant to the association comes from the government’s Estate Regeneration Fund.

The money will be used for a study of the Roman Road and Fishmoor Drive area to look at options for residential development on land owned by the association and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Between 200 and 335 homes could built if a full-scale scheme is developed and given planning permission.

The study will involve discussions with residents, examine different development options, revise the current master plan, and conduct site investigations.

It has been welcomed by borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley and his Conservative counterpart Cllr Derek Hardman.

The money is part of the national £32million Estate Regeneration Fund announced by Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid covering 105 areas.

Hilary Brady, Together Housing's head of development, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this money so we can explore new development possibilities in Blackburn.

“We’re already making significant investments into the borough so being able to explore new possibilities is good news for the community and the economy alike.”

The grant complements the council's work developing plans for a South East Blackburn Housing Zone area in the Fishmoor Drive and Highercroft area.

Cllr Riley said: "The grant is good news.

“We are pleased that the government has recognised that more needs to be done to boost regeneration and generate new housing opportunities.

“It will allow us, in these early stages, to work with key partners such as Together Housing and residents to explore ways to improve the area.”

Cllr Hardman said: "This is really welcome investment by the government in a study to explore whether this patch of difficult to develop brownfield land can be turned into housing.

"It would be far better to build houses there rather than on much-valued green belt land."