A HOMEOWNER has blamed extensive housebuilding work in the Gib Lane area of Blackburn for ‘torrents of water’ pouring through his garden.

Darren Marsden was asking councillors to block a planning application for hundreds more homes in the area.

Kingswood Homes and Rule Five Land Ltd have asked for detailed approval to build 155 houses initially and outline planning permission for a further 280 on 69 acres of land off Moorland Drive.

The scheme is an extension of the Green Hills development originally conceived by Blackburn-raised design guru Wayne Hemingway.

Nearby resident Mr Marsden appeared before a virtual meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee on Thursday.

He told councillors: “I have had two torrents of water pouring through my garden in five months.

“These were not one-in-100-year flood events. Local residents are very concerned about the flood risk if this development goes ahead.”

He asked for approval of the planning application, part of the council’s Gib Lane Masterplan, to be put on hold until new drainage and flood prevention measures were put in place.

Paul Jones, managing director of Kingswood Homes, said the firm had advanced flood prevention measures scheduled for later in the multi-phase development to meet residents’ concerns.

He said: “We believe the drainage issues have now been resolved.”

Cllr Paul Marrow, Conservative group regeneration spokesman, opposed approval saying: “Residents should not be in fear of flooding or potential flooding in the future.”

Moving approval, the council’s growth boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “This is a flagship development for Blackburn giving increased choice for borough residents.”

The application was approved with conditions regarding drainage works being in place before construction started.