CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a mental health unit in a former solicitors’ office have been scrapped.

ASC Healthcare has withdrawn proposals to convert Oakfield House in Preston New Road, Blackburn, into a 24-hour centre.

A planning application was submitted last year to turn Oakfield House, into a halfway house for 30 men and women coming out of secure psychiatric services.

Concerned residents who opposed the application said the area is saturated with similar establishments and they were worried about the 24 hour use.

The facility would have accommodated 30 men and women aged from 18 to 65 in three nine-bedded units and three ‘step-down’ individual apartments.

It had been due to be discussed by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee last week but bosses withdrew the application ahead of the meeting.

Planners had recommended the application be refused permission after council bosses labelled it “speculative”.

In a formal response to the application, adult services department officials said they were currently working on a future market position statement which will determine sufficiency and future demand for learning difficulty facilities as well as those for autism, mental health, elderly persons, extra care, residential care, nursing care and specialist needs such as for the borough’s ageing Asian population.