A local authority is proposing to transfer a parcel of land to a social housing provider so a new children's hub can be built in the middle of a 1950s former council estate.

The move will allow the Together Housing Group (THG) to claim an £800,000 grant to develop the youth centre in Shadsworth.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board has been recommended to transfer the plot, which includes the surrounding park and open space, on a 99-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

The children's hub is being finances from an £8 million grant to the borough from the government's Youth Investment Fund.

The grant also includes £3.3m to double the size of Darwen Youth Centre in Knott Street, £2.9m to provide Blackburn Youth Zone with a brand new employment and skills hub in the unused neighbouring Fuse Box building and £1m to transform Audley and Queen’s Park Children’s Centre into a seven days-a-week youth hub.

The scheme is part of a £20m makeover of the Shadsworth Estate in South-East Blackburn by Together Housing.

The project includes constructing the single-storey children's hub building behind an existing shopping and community complex on Blackburn's Shadsworth estate,the refurbishment of surrounding park off Rothesay Road and the building of small infill housing developments.

A report to Thursday's meeting of the executive board recommending approval of the deal by borough growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood says: "Together Housing Group (THG) through their subsidiary Newground-Together have bid for and secured Youth Investment Fund (YIF) grant to build a new children's hub in the Shadsworth area.

"The project is supported by the council and the location of the new building will be in a central area close to the existing Shadsworth Hub, local play area and open space.

"A condition of the YIF grant is that the land ownership should be in the name of the grant receiving organisation.

"Officers from the council and THG identified the best course of action would be to grant a long lease to THG for the parcel of land which includes the park and open space adjacent to the Shadsworth Hub.

"This will enable Newground-Together to draw down grant and commence the building of the new childrens hub and maintain the whole hub, park and open space for the term of the lease.

"It will provide a dedicated youth provision, offering universal open access, indoor multi-use flexible spaces and access to outdoor space, enabling the provision to enhance the physical, mental and social health of young people using the natural environment and park facilities."