LAND used by dog walkers and children for playing is to be sold off, clearing the way for more than 140 new affordable houses.

Council bosses in Blackburn with Darwen have approved proposals to appropriate land for planning purposes, making space for a new large-scale development on the Griffin site in Blackburn.

During the Griffin site assembly, when adjacent areas of land were joined to make a larger site, seeds were planted in parcels of land where terraced properties had been demolished. They were left to flower to make the site more attractive for residents still living in the clearance area.

Some areas have been open to pedestrian access, children playing and dog walkers and some of the land could be considered to be ‘open space’, within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Due to this, the council had to use the prescribed process that must be followed before it can dispose of such open space.

They say, whilst this is a previous clearance area, it is situated in close proximity to Blackburn town centre and would provide much-needed family housing for local people.

Borough executive member for growth and development, Cllr Phil Riley, has approved a proposal to appropriate the land so the site can be sold off for housing.

He said: “The council identified 165 sub-standard homes for clearance and the land to be redeveloped to provide new housing to meet the borough’s aspiration and need.

“163 properties have been bought along with the decommissioned Griffin Inn public house which was also purchased and included in the land assembly.

“Properties bought for clearance have been demolished as full terraces had been assembled.

“The cleared sites were seeded to improve their visual impact across the neighbourhood

“A procurement exercise was carried out in 2018 and a preferred developer was chosen to carry out the redevelopment of the site.

“The preferred developer is currently finalising the scheme layout and plan to submit a planning application this month.

“Since appointing the preferred developer, the council has been considering the effect that the proposed development will have on residents who may have enjoyed the benefit of using the cleared site and treating the land as informal open space.

“In order to implement the redevelopment proposals for the Griffin redevelopment site, the council is now required to appropriate the land for planning purposes.”