PROPOSALS for a 167-home ‘village’ on green fields in Blackburn designed by Wayne Hemingway are set to come a step closer to reality next week.

The detailed planning application for the development, first revealed in January 2015, is recommended for approval by councillors on Thursday.

International designer Mr Hemingway is confident of creating ‘attractive and affordable’ village-style development ‘Green Hills Blackburn’.

Instead of the originally single ‘village green’ it will provide two interlinked ones on different levels along with a community hub with a cafe, bakery or shop.

The 25-acre site between Gib Lane and Livesey Branch Road is part of controversial Blackburn with Darwen Council plans to build thousands of executive homes on greenfield sites.

Mr Hemingway has added a number of two bedroomed houses to the original ‘Livesey Green’ plans for 145 three, four and five-bedroomed homes approved in outline by Blackburn with Darwen borough planning committee.

The development plans around Gib Lane have proved particularly controversial and there are five objections to the plan by Kingswood Home, including one from Wainhomes which is developing 79 houses on neighbouring land.

Borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “I am absolutely delighted to see this final detailed planning application.

“These are just the type of homes Blackburn needs and will put the town on the map.”

New Meadowhead Tory councillor Keith Murray, a long-term critic of development plans for West Blackburn, said: “I think this is an acceptable compromise.

“While they appear to be saleable homes, my concern is whether there will be enough buyers.

“We need to bring high-quality well-paid jobs to Blackburn if this type of property is to sell.”

Kingswood’s planning statement said ‘sustainable drainage systems’ had been included to tackle flooding concerns The planning committee is recommended to approve the scheme on Thursday subject to six pages of conditions.

If approved, the development would be expected to be started in January.