Details of the new Local Plan that will govern development policy across the Borough for the foreseeable future have been revealed by the Council.
The draft Plan includes huge development in North East Blackburn, with 1500 houses planned for the greenfield area between Sunny Bower and Brownhill. Conservative candidate for Little Harwood & Whitebirk, Iain Sykes, who has led the campaign against the Council developing a greenfield site on Whalley Old Road said "We’re very disappointed and angry that BWDBC are intent on destroying most of the greenfield land around Sunny Bower. It makes a mockery of their declaration of a climate emergency last year. We are determined to fight this all the way."
Conservative candidate for Livesey with Pleasington Mark Russell said "The devil is in the detail so we need to examine it carefully. It strikes me as odd that Labour are pushing this through now when new government housing targets are due to be published soon and could significantly affect the Plan. Plus usual consultation methods such as public meetings cannot be held at the moment. I don't see what the rush is".