PROPOSALS for up to 100 new homes, a careers hub and industrial units can now go ahead.

The scheme at Milking Lane in Lower Darwen was granted approval at a Blackburn with Darwen Council planning and highways committee meeting.

Previous proposals to build 180 homes on three sections of land, including the site of the former paper mill, collapsed in November 2015 after the developers and borough council failed to sign an agreement over affordable housing.

It was bought as a joint venture between the council and Barnfield Construction in 2018.

They hope to develop the land near Junction 4 of the M65 as a business park, bringing new jobs to the area, and for housing.

Council bosses say the site is ideally located and will provide much-needed employment land for new businesses for local expansion and inward investment in the borough.

The scheme was pushed ahead following a successful bid for grant funding.

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership agreed to provide £1.4m for work needed around Milking Lane to help make the development of the site viable.

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith said: “This item was going to be withdrawn and put to the next committee but we know what an important scheme it is and how important it is to get it done.”

Cllr Smith added the planning department had worked hard to get the required information from Highways England and the Environment Agency so that a decision on the development did not have to be delayed.

Executive member for growth and development Cllr Phil Riley said: “The site was ugly and there has been a lot of work to get things to this point by officers, as well as support from the MP for Rossendale and Darwen.

“The road is being paid for by a grant from the LEP. I am delighted to move this for approval.”