Darwen homes plan 'must go ahead now' (From Blackburn Citizen)

Darwen homes plan 'must go ahead now'

12:48pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Darwen

LEADING opposition borough councillors have called for action to ensure that a controversial 133- home development on land between Pole Lane and Spring Meadows in Darwen goes ahead quickly.

Tory Alan Cottam and Liberal Democrat David Foster are concerned that now the scheme has planning permission, the developer will ‘landbank’ the site for months or make a small start on construction work, leaving it as a part-finished building site.

Coun Cottam tackled regeneration boss Dave Harling at the Blackburn with Darwen Council forum on the issue.

He said he was concerned that the site on green-belt land could be ‘banked’ until property values rose and then sold on.

Coun Foster feared work would be started but not finished.

Coun Harling said: “We have held discussions with the applicants and they have made it clear they wish to progress to selling the land to a house builder and develop the site. They have agreed to a two-year time limit.”

Builder David Knowles said: “We haven’t bought it to landbank it, we want to start work as soon as possible.

“I have no idea at the moment when work will start but we have a big site meeting later this week.”