A HOUSING development in Darwen is set to continue to go ahead after it was agreed to remove an agreement 'which would have halted' the plans.

Blackburn with Darwen planning bosses gave the go ahead to allow Together Housing to remove £73,600 of funding from plans to demolish the 'eyesore' Elizabeth House, in Sudellside Street and build and build 46 affordable dwellings.

Bosses at the housing company said the development was not 'financially viable' if the section 106 agreement, which called for the funding, was kept in place.

Members of the council's planning and highways committee passed the decision unanimously to ensure the 'much needed work' went ahead.

Cllr Dave Smith, chairman of the committee, said the decision could 'set a precedent' which would help to develop brownfield sites in need.

He said: "Do we want a site to remain vacant or bring it forward for some much needed housing.

"It is quite a good example of how developers are finding it hard to develop brownfield sites.

"The developers have demonstrated that with the section 106 agreement it will not be able to go ahead."

The proposals, which are already underway on-site, should see 46 properties eventually created, ranging from older people’s bungalows to three-bedroom family units.

An initial announcement was made about redeveloping the land, which has become a magnet for fly tippers, in 2012, but it took until 2016 for planning consent to be finalised.

Work should now be able to continue on the former sheltered housing site to bring housing to the area.

Cllr Sylvia Liddle, who represents the Roe Lee ward on the council, said: "I'm sure nobody wants to see derelict land.

"We are desperate for affordable housing which this will bring the area."

Cllr Jacqueline Slater, who represents the Fernhurst ward, also backed the plans, but was wary of making sure other developers do not take advantage of the decision in the future.

She said: "It is a concern if we let this go ahead it could be thrown back in our faces by another company down the line.

"I just don't want us to shoot ourselves in the foot.

"But it is a bad spot in the middle of nowhere and there is a shortage of bungalows in Darwen.

"Places that do have bungalows all have waiting lists."

Cllr Smith said the development went through a test to determine whether the funding could be afforded and whether the project could go ahead without it, which had to be met for it to go ahead.