DOZENS of factory built homes proposed for derelict Blackburn land have been granted permission.

Earlier this year it was revealed Alaska Street in Blackburn is set to get its first estate of modular factory-built homes.

The 73 two, three and four-bedroomed houses in the Infirmary area will be built by social housing provider Places For People for affordable rent.

The construction process for the £11million estate will see the homes built in sections in a factory and then transported by lorry for swift assembly on site.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee approved the plans at a meeting on Thursday.

With a build time of 64 weeks compared to two years for traditionally-built homes, bosses at Places For People believes modular construction can help meet the nation’s housing needs.

Senior council planning officer Gavin Prescott said developers hoped to be on site to start work in October.

Borough regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, added: "This is a brilliant scheme on a site that has been derelict for a numbers of years.

"The idea of modular housing is an interesting one and I'm more than happy to support it."

About 100 consultation letters were posted to neighbouring properties and just two letters of objection were received in return.

Among the concerns cited were poor access, increased traffic, crime, loss of light and possible damp to properties.