DETAILS of the first 96 homes to be built on the site of former paper mill hit by flooding on Boxing Day 2015 have been submitted for approval by council planners.

The mix of detached and semi-detached houses with short terraces is the first phase of 500 property estate off Preston Old Road in Feniscowles, Blackburn.

On Boxing Day 2015 much of the former Sappi Paper Mill site was covered with flood water leading Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Phil Riley to promise drainage would be a major factor in considering future planning applications.

The area covered by the new detailed submission, known as The Meadows', is at the Livesey Branch Road end of the proposed development away from the former mill buildings and River Darwen.

It will include 20 two-bedroomed housees, 31 three-bedroomed homes, 37 four-bedroomed properties and eight luxury homes with five bedrooms.

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Phil Riley said: "It is really good news that the detailed application for the first phase of this major development has come forward.

"Flooding issues were addressed in the outline application approved in November 2015 and in the detailed applications for further phases of the site later. This area was not affected by the Boxing Day flooding."

His Conservative shadow and Livesey with Pleasington councillor Derek Hardman said: "This is good news. We now want the developers Blackburn Waterside Regeneration to get on with it and start building."

The Sappi Paper Mill closed in 2008 and was demolished in the summer of 2012. Its 140 foot, chimney was brought down by specialist steeplejacks in February 2016.

The overall Stanworth Waters site will be developed in five separate parcels.

There will be a new access highway called Stanworth Park Road linking Livesey Branch Road and Moulden Brow and improved access for walkers to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Raddlesworth River.

It includes a woodland play area, informal recreation spaces, footpaths, and woodland improvements.

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