AS many as 60 new homes could be built on land off Clarendon Road in Blackburn.

Capita has been appointed by Blackburn with Darwen Council to draw up outline plans for a large new estate near Blackburn old cemetery.

The land was previously classed as green infrastructure but in 2017, the council gave notice of proposals to include it in their brownfield land register allocated for residential development.

This effectively granted permission in principle, which establishes the suitability in principle for housing-led development of the land.

Details relating to layout, scale, appearance and landscaping will all be submitted as part of a separate reserved matters application following successful granting of outline planning permission.

The site currently comprises of open fields separated by trees and shrubs.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application reads: "No fatal accidents have been reported within the study area during the most recent five-year period.

"In conclusion, although there have been several accidents within the study area, particularly at the A666 Whalley New Road/St James’s Road mini-roundabout junction due to its new layout, the accident data does not indicate any inherent road safety issues with the existing layout of the roads and junctions.

"The site is highly accessible to a range of facilities and destinations by walking, cycling and is also accessible by public transport in line with the national and local transport policies.

"It is proposed that there would be two access points to the site, serving as a vehicular, pedestrian and cycle accesses. One point of access would be provided off Clarendon Road East to the north of the site, and the other access point would be located off Laburnum Road to the south of the site.

"Both access points would be provided via simple priority junctions. The two access roads would be connected, providing a through route for the development."

In December, figures showed the number of new homes being built in Blackburn with Darwen is now comfortably beating its own and the Government's targets.

The latest figures for properties under construction in major schemes collated by Blackburn with Darwen Council show that 1,530 are now under way.

The official Government target is for 3,000 new homes between 2016 and 2021 - 500 a year.

The council’s own controversial Local Plan in 2013 requires 9,400 house starts, including 4,000 large executive-style properties, over 15 years - 620 every 12 months.