FOUR new industrial units could be built on vacant land close to the M65.

They are proposed for Chanters Way close to the motorway's Junction Four in Lower Darwen.

Bury-based businessman Mohsin Alli has asked Blackburn with Darwen Council for planning permission for the development.

A previously approved scheme in 2008 for industrial units was never built,

A supporting statement with his application says: "The site is situated in an area of established commercial/employment land uses which is mainly industrial based and earmarked for ‘Employment Land Use’.

"There are copious public transport links to Blackburn and surrounding towns and cities, with arterial roads leading to the M65 motorway network.

"This site was previously approved for industrial units circa 2008 and has since laid vacant due to the economic climate.

"The proposed development comprises 15,300 square feet of employment use in one linear block and providing the possibility of extending two units into one should demand exists.

"The designs were developed in response to the sites location adjacent the M65 motorway network.

"The positioning of the units was critical in protecting both the visual amenity and acoustic separation from Chanters Way.

"The buildings have been located to maintain the existing landscape 'bund' to remain as a visual barrier to hide the bulk of the new buildings.

"Tree planting will provide both visual amenity and acoustic screening.

"The proposed development consists of four industrial units.

"The proposed new units are located closer to the M65 motorway boundary and away from Chanter’s way and the existing site access will be utilised.

"New parking directives and demonstration indicate ample parking facilities for service vehicles, medium panel vans, 7.5 tonne vehicles and disabled parking spaces.

"The buildings are simple clear span portal frames with a six metre to eaves height which is standard on industrial buildings of this size and provides essentially a single storey structure.

"This frame is then to be clad in a mixture of metal cladding and brickwork.

"The appearance of the windows and doors to be UPVC double-glazed.

"Also proposed to the units are galvanised roller shutters and galvanised powder coated steel cladded fire exit doors.

The layout on the site forms an inward-looking terrace that creates a larger urban type block rather than individual units and provides a unified and cohesive appearance."