PLANS for 17 new homes on the site of a former day care centre are set to move a step closer.

Blackburn-based firm Hearle Homes lodged an application with Blackburn with Darwen Council proposing the development last year and now the proposal is due to be discussed by the council’s planning and highways committee..

A provisional deal to sell the land – which was home to the former Tower View Day Centre as well as allotments and garages, was agreed in June.

Council bosses said they had to sell the land to help meet the government’s housing requirement targets approved in the local plan.

If approved, the estate will be made up of 12 three-bedroom semi detached houses and five detached houses of four or more bedrooms.

Hearle Homes would have to pay the council £20,000 towards off-site green infrastructure.

Planning bosses have recommended the development be given permission.

Council officer Nick Blackledge said: “The proposal will deliver a high-quality housing development which will assist in widening the choice of family housing in the borough in accordance with the borough’s strategic aims and objectives for housing growth as set out in the core strategy.

“The proposal is also satisfactory from a technical point of view, with all issues having been addressed through the application, or capable of being controlled or mitigated through planning conditions.

“A net loss of local priority habitat is identified as a result of the loss of allotments sited to the western entrance to the site.

“Although limited opportunity exists within the site for mitigation, a landscape plan will be required by condition to secure planting of appropriate species to compensate for some loss.

“Moreover, an agreed Section 106 commuted sum payment of £20,000 from the developer will provide for enhanced off-site green infrastructure provision, offering further compensation.”

In a report detailing the sale of the site earlier this year, borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “The council’s local plan sets a housing requirement to meet over the 15 year plan period.

“Development of the site will contribute to meeting this target and assist in improving the quality of the borough’s housing offer.”

“The sale and subsequent development of the site will generate a capital receipt and will attract new homes bonuses and council tax for 16 – 20 new homes.

The development will be discussed on Thursday in a meeting at Blackburn town hall.

n Read more stories about planning applications in East Lancashire at lancashiretelegraph.co.uk