Blackburn to sign off Holden Fold masterplan 

Blackburn with Darwen Council is to approve its strategy to deliver 430 homes on 50 acres south-east of Blackburn town centre. 

Planning and design consultancy Cass Associates drew up the masterplan for the Holden Fold site, which is made up of agricultural fields and is the site of the former Darwen Moorland High School. 

The school closed in 2008 and the buildings were demolished in 2016.

In September, the council launched a public consultation on the proposals for the site, which is designated for housing under the Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan. 

The council received a total of 56 responses from statutory bodies, non-statutory bodies and members of the public.  

Objections to the principle of developing on greenfield land, concerns relating to the increased traffic generated as a result of the development, and concerns over the loss of open space and impact on wildlife, were recorded during the four-week consultation. 

The site is split into eight plots, owned by six different owners. Blackburn with Darwen Council owns three of the plots, around half of the total area. 

The landowners “have been working collaboratively to prepare a masterplan which will guide the layout and form of new housing development on the site”, according to a report to the council’s executive, which meets on Thursday and is expected to sign off the masterplan.

In addition to housing, Square Meadow playing field to the south of the site and under council ownership could be enhanced as a result of any development, according to the masterplan. 

Alongside the masterplan, an Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been prepared, which sets out the necessary infrastructure requirements for each phase of development and includes the creation of access points on Holden Fold, Moor Lane and Roman Road. 

This site is one of five major housing allocations for Darwen in the local plan. 

 

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We need more facilities for healthcare, as well as extra schools and increased business sites to create more jobs not more houses. Darwen is only a small town, which is overcrowded with all the houses being built. Build more schools and health centres to [serve] all these new houses.

By Sue

We would like to see an indoor bowling facility integrated into the plans to develop Square Meadow. Demand for such a facility is enormous as despite there being 300 facilities in the country none exists in Lancashire as opposed to 11 in Yorkshire. Such a facility would attract players from all over the county to Darwen and provide an excellent sports hub for the town.

By John Schofield

Could the council not earmark a portion of money to build an indoor bowling venue. Many of the older end do play and it would attract younger players.

By Ian Lomax

As part of this development consider the provision of an indoor bowling centre. Since there is no provision in Lancashire for a professional bowling facility, this would be as prestigious as the proposed cricket academy. Both health, mental health and community spirit would be catered for as well as bringing players from other counties into the area which may well help local trades.

By Glenys Colling

I would full support the part development of an indoor bowling centre within this area, since there is no provision in Lancashire for indoor bowling. This would help health, mental health and community spirit would be catered for as well as bringing players from other part of the country which would help the local economy.

By Alan Hill

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