CONTROVERSIAL proposals for 85 new homes on the outskirts of Blackburn look set to be approved despite residents’ concerns about road safety.

The Persimmon Homes scheme for land off Parsonage Road, Roe Lee, attracted objections from neighbours who branded it “illogical”.

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But planning bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council have recommended that the project goes ahead – subject to the developer handing over £550,000 for housing and highways improvements.

In September, the Lancashire Telegraph reported how Parsonage Road residents had launched a petition calling for traffic calming measures to combat the “rat run” between Ramsgreave and Wilpshire.

One objection, from Alan Poyner, said: “It is ill-founded, illogical and a retrograde step for the entire area.”

He added: “More specifically, the area planned for regeneration is subject to serious flooding, speeding traffic, blind spots on existing drives...and traffic congestion at the junction of Parsonage Road with Whalley New Road.”

John and Hilda Rawcliffe, of nearby Warrenside Close, said: “We question whether this development is necessary. We object to building on green field sites as a matter of principle, whilst there are derelict building and empty sites within existing urban areas.”

The area, south of Parsonage Road, is not considered green belt land and no objections were received from the Environment Agency, the council’s school organisation manager or ecology department.

Rachael Coar, from Persimmon Homes, said the plans for 38 three-bedroom and 47 four-bedroom houses would “provide a wider choice of housing types in a desirable market area”.

Her planning statement said: “The borough has a history of under-supply with a limited number of completions since 2003. Current and emerging targets as adopted by the Core Strategy and Site Allocations and Development Management Policies show that the annual target cannot be reached with only urban, brownfield sites.

“This supports development of an upmarket housing scheme at Parsonage Road.”

Under the section 106 agreement, Permission would provide the council with £404,000 for affordable housing, £75,000 for junction improvements where Whalley New Road meets Parsonage Road, and £71,000 for public open space projects.

Councillors will vote on proposals on Thursday.