Published Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 15:13
Residents are being invited to have their final say on a draft masterplan detailing proposals for a major new housing development in North East Blackburn.
The land – off Brownhill Drive – has been identified for up to 1,500 new homes in Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Local Plan.
The Local Plan was adopted by the Council in early 2024 and is a blueprint for how the borough could be developed between now and 2037.
The masterplan for the site will expand on this – setting out everything from the different types of homes that could be built on the 100-hectares site, to new roads, open spaces, and a proposed community hub.
It’s being developed with support from Stantec – a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting – and reflects feedback from residents captured during a previous public consultation held last year.
Simon Jones, Growth Programme Director at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
This proposed development in North East Blackburn has the potential to be the biggest new housing site in our borough.
The land has been earmarked for new homes for many years now and has been included in our Local Plan, which sets out how we will meet our housing needs over the next decade or so, while also carefully planning the infrastructure needed.
Given the scale of the proposals – which would be a long-term plan with development expected to span the next 20 years or so – we have undertaken extensive public consultation: first as part of the Local Plan, then by offering options for the masterplan, and now this final round with updated proposals from the draft masterplan.
We have to be able to deliver new homes in our borough to meet the demand being forecast over the coming years, and we want to do this in a managed way which helps protect and strengthen our communities.
A number of information boards have been prepared to summarise the revised masterplan proposals; these can be viewed at:
ww.blackburn.gov.uk/NEBlackburn
The draft includes proposals for:
- A mix of privately-owned and affordable new homes
- A new community hub which will include a new health facility and make provision for an assisted living/extra care facility and retail uses, both subject to demand
- Keeping and enhancing existing playing fields
- Extension of a local bus route, connecting to the proposed new development
On the same webpage, residents can also find out more about how their previous views have been incorporated into the draft masterplan, along with responses to earlier feedback.
Simon added:
As a borough, we’re in a strong position as we have an agreed Local Plan that sets out a blueprint for future development.
It’s been painstakingly developed by experts who really understand the borough and what’s needed, and it has been thoroughly reviewed by a Government Planning Inspector.
The Local Plan has helped us identify how many new homes we’ll need in the future, as well as the infrastructure required – including new roads, school places, health provision, and the facilities needed to support our businesses and future growth.
For the land in North East Blackburn, a huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to see how the 100-hectares site could be developed.
We’re now at a stage where we can share a summary of the draft masterplan proposals, which will help inform any future planning applications which come forward on the site.
As ever, our focus is on getting this right. We want to hear from residents and local businesses, and we’ve tried our best to make it easy to take part in the consultation – whether online or in person.
Get involved
Online
You can view the information boards summarising the draft masterplan proposals and complete a survey now at:
www.blackburn.gov.uk/NEBlackburn
Information boards
Information boards are also available to view at Blackburn Market until Monday, 9 June (excluding Monday, 19th May).
The market is open Monday to Saturday, 8:30am to 5:30pm. Feedback forms are available for you to take away and complete.
Drop-in event
A drop-in event will also be held on Monday, 19 May, from 3pm to 7:30pm at:
St Gabriel’s Church Hall, Church Walk, Blackburn, BB1 9QS
No booking is required – please call in at a time that suits you.
More information
If you’re unable to attend the event and have questions, please contact the Forward Planning team:
Email: forwardplanning@blackburn.gov.uk
Tel: 01254 666930
The public consultation will remain open until 5pm on Monday, 9th June. All comments need to be received before the deadline if they are to be considered.
All feedback will be thoroughly reviewed, with a final masterplan expected to be completed by the end of the year. This will then be put before the Council’s Executive Board for approval.
You can find out more now and view all available documents at: www.blackburn.gov.uk/NEBlackburn