PROPOSALS for up to 95 homes in ‘green belt’ moorland are to be debated by councillors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Planning Committee is recommended to approve the scheme on Waterside Park near Eccleshill Village despite the presence of bats, barn owls, otters and common toads on the 12-acre site.

The scheme proposed by furniture firm GFW Ltd would involve the demolition of their current distribution centre and the nearby Lower Grimshaw Farm.

GFW would relocate elsewhere.

Planning officers recommend the meeting on Thursday attach 30 conditions to any approval including protecting the rare species. They say that because the site, off Johnson Road, is already industrially developed the new housing estate can go ahead despite being in the protected green belt.

The proposal has generated 26 letters of objection concerned about wildlife, road safety, the retention of a footpath, and the impact of so many new homes on the West Pennine Moors countryside.

A report by planning officers calls for a contribution from any developers of £476,900 towards schools, highway improvements and public open space.

It also says before any construction work a second detailed planning application for the homes must be submitted and approved adding: “The rural location of the site should influence the overall design.”

The proposed housing is made up of 45 two and three-bedroomed homes, 39 with four bedrooms and 11 with five. One-fifth will be affordable.

The report reveals the plans have been progressively reduced from an original 179 homes through 125 and 114 and finally to the current 95 in discussions with council officers.

It comments: “This reduction ensures development to be confined to the footprint of the industrial buildings on the site and their associated hardstanding. This is fundamental to the site’s green belt location.”

The officers report says: “The site lies within the valley of Grimshaw Brook. The valley landscape has been altered over several hundred years by historic industrial activity.

“The site is largely bordered on all sides by farmland.

“There is public footpath access across the site from Johnson Road.

“The existing Public Right of Way will remain in its current location where possible.

The proposed conditions stipulate an archaeological investigation of the remains of the demolished Grimshaw Bridge Cotton Mill, which dates from 1782, before building work.

The report says: “The Grimshaw Brook Valley and Waterside and Pickup Bank Valley Biological Heritage Sites have been avoided.

“It is anticipated that parts of the site will form open space allowing ecological benefits to be provided with betterments provided throughout.”