A GOVERNMENT minister has been blasted for taking a ‘political’ decision to approve Preston’s controversial expansion.

It has emerged that Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles overturned the verdict of the independent planning inspector over the £700m Tithebarn scheme.

The Lancashire Telegraph has seen a copy of the report by planning inspector Ken Barton, which is due to be released today.

The key factor, according to Mr Barton's report, was the resulting additional congestion in Preston city centre.

However, this has been over-ruled by Mr Pickles, who said traffic concerns were ‘outweighed’ by the benefits of the scheme to the city.

Mr Barton accepted there would be a negative impact on neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool of more than 1,000 jobs.

Blackburn had been ‘outpaced’ by Preston in recent years, he said, although public investment had led to ‘green shoots’.

But he concluded that Blackburn was a ‘vital and viable town’, which could cope with the impact of Tithebarn.

He also dismissed as ‘tenuous’ claims from Blackburn with Darwen Council that the result of the lost trade would be social unrest and extremism.

Adam Scott, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s strategic director of regeneration, said: “We objected strongly to the Tithebarn proposals, for reasons which are well-known.

“Today we feel vindicated, because the inspector recommended refusal.

"We are disappointed that the Secretary of State has taken a decision from a political arena to overturn it.”

”It clearly does say that the impact on Blackburn with Darwen will be detrimental.”

But after spending £365,000 fighting the scheme, Blackburn with Darwen council said it was ‘extremely unlikely’ to appeal.