A COUNCIL has sold land off a new highway once described as ‘a road to nowhere’ to allow the development of 300 houses.

Altham-based McDermott Homes are now expected to put in a planning application shortly to build the estate on Bailey’s Field in Darwen.

Tonight Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board is set to rubber stamp the sale for around £500,000 of four small parcels of land needed to allow the housing developer to press ahead with the scheme.

McDermott Homes has already secured the ownership of most of the land off the controversial new Ellison Fold Way linking Ivinson Road and Marsh House Lane, once known as the Darwen East Distributor Road.

The construction of the highway was strongly opposed by the council’s Conservative group and Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s growth boss, said the sale of the parcels of land to allow the new housing estate demonstrated the ‘wisdom of the council’ in going ahead with it.

Darwen East Liberal Democrat Cllr Roy Davies, who once described the scheme as a ‘road to nowhere’ said: “I am surprised they have got someone to build on Bailey’s Field.

“I suppose this proves the council right in putting the road there if a developer is going to build homes off it.

“But I am concerned about whether Darwen’s Roads, especially the A666, can deal with the amount of traffic being generated by all the house building taking place in the town.”

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s growth boss, said: “Ellison Fold Way is a tribute to the wisdom of the council of building this road.

“It has allowed Bailey's Field, long earmarked for housing, to be developed for new houses.

“All the land will be in the ownership of McDermott Homes.

“It will soon put in a planning application to build 300 houses on Bailey’s Field.”

Cllr Paul Marrow, his Conservative group shadow, said: “Do we need these new houses?

“Developers are building all over the borough without the necessary infrastructure of roads, schools and health provision.

“The council needs to stop and take stock.

“We need a full review of housebuilding across Blackburn with Darwen.”

The sale of the four parcels of council land attracted six bidders.