A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for a new 145-house “village”, including a country green and cafe south of Blackburn, will be debated by councillors after almost 40 objections.

The proposals for a high-quality development, reflecting borough regeneration bosses’ dream of building 4,000 rural-style executive homes by 2030, were unveiled in January.

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The ambitious plan for the new “Livesey Green,” off Gib Lane, has provoked strong local opposition with 36 letters of objection from residents and will be discussed on Thursday.

Last year Livesey Parish Council unanimously voted against it.

Among the objectors is Keith Murray, chairman of the Greenfield Focus Group, who repeats in a letter concerns he took to Blackburn with Darwen Council in February that a forgotten foot and mouth burial pit containing 150 animal carcasses could lie below the site.

Gib Lane resident Mr Murray said: “The pit will need investigation, testing and authorisation and is close to one of the sub-surface drains on site.”

The proposals by Rule Five Land Ltd are the initial stage of siting more than 500 homes and a new primary at the farmland site.

In March, a second scheme to build 450 homes, an employment park and community hub on the nearby site of the old Sappi paper mill were revealed.

In a 43-page report to the borough planning and highways committee, officers recommend approval subject to several strict conditions.

Spread across 25 acres, the ‘Livesey Green’ village includes 75 three-bedroom, 50 four-bedroom and 20 five-bedroom properties.

Stuart Booth from planning agent JWPC said the ‘Livesey Green’ development was ‘a long way away’ from the burial pit and was unaffected by its presence or contents.

Dealing with a slaughter pit could significantly delay either or both developments.