The Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member decisions meeting included discussion of a draft local development order, a section 228 highways act agreement, and a land transfer and long lease disposal. The meeting was scheduled to discuss a consultation on a draft local development order (LDO) for electric vehicle charge points, a Section 228 agreement relating to Roman Road, and a land transfer and long lease disposal of land at Staffa Crescent/Knuzden Brook to Together Housing Group. It is not known whether these topics were actually discussed, or whether any decisions were made.

Land Transfer and Long Lease Disposal at Staffa Crescent/Knuzden Brook

The meeting was scheduled to consider the proposed transfer of land and granting of a long lease to Together Housing Group (THG) to support their regeneration plans for the Shadsworth housing estate.

THG had secured planning permission to build 105 new affordable homes across the estate, including at Staffa Crescent, which would require the inclusion of council-owned land. The council was asked to consider the transfer of the freehold of land hatched blue on appendix 1 to THG, and the granting of a 30-year lease to THG for land hatched green on appendix 1. The second parcel of land is the open space/play area at Knuzden Brook, which THG would enhance and retain for residents.

The report pack noted that Together Housing Group's plans included:

• A pilot project to remodel some existing properties.

• Building a new Childrens Hub centre behind the Shadsworth Community Centre Hub.

• Building new 2, 3 and 4 bed family homes.

• Public realm enhancements and improvements to the local park/play area located between Dunoon Drive and Bute Road.

• Public realm enhancements and improvements to the local park/play area off Staffa Crescent at Knuzden Brook.

The report pack stated that THG, with the support of the council's Childrens Team, successfully bid for grant funding from the 'Youth Investment Fund' (YIF) to fund the Childrens Hub building, securing £800,000. This funding would form part of Together Housing Group's wider £20m plan to improve community facilities, outdoor spaces, and homes in the Shadsworth area.

The council was asked to note that the Staffa Crescent scheme of 70 new affordable homes requires the inclusion of council-owned land. The report pack stated that the homes would help provide a secure and safe housing offer that would provide surveillance over the play area and public open space, which would also be enhanced as part of the planning approval.

The council was asked to approve the transfer of the freehold of the parcel of land hatched blue on appendix 1 to THG, and to approve the granting of a lease for 30 years to THG for the land hatched green on appendix 1.

The council was also asked to authorise officers to finalise negotiations with THG and prepare the freehold land transfer and lease transfer, and to delegate authority to conclude negotiations, including terms of any land transfer and contracts to the Growth Programme Director in consultation with Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development, to approve the final heads of terms.

The report pack stated that transfer of the land would result in savings to the council of around £1,000 per annum for general maintenance and equipment replacement.

Section 228 - Roman Road

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the adoption of a small area of unregistered land between Roman Road, Eccleshill, and the new development at Davy Field Gardens. This adoption would be as a highway, to be maintained at public expense, in accordance with Section 228 of the Highways Act 1980¹.

The report pack stated that a new development had recently been constructed off Roman Road, Eccleshill, at Davyfield Gardens, and that the development involved highway improvement works to form a new access point from Roman Road into the development. The road within the development is covered by a Section 38 agreement² and would subsequently become an adopted highway.

The report pack noted that highway works to create a new footway along Roman Road were also due to be declared as public highway by the landowner, who is the local farmer upon whose field the development has taken place. Whilst preparing the necessary plans and documents, it was noted that there was a potential strip of land of varying width between the footway and the adopted highway.

The council was asked to approve the adoption and authorise the Deputy Director of Legal and Governance in conjunction with the Head of Highways and Transport to take all necessary steps pursuant to the provisions of S228 of the Highways Act 1980 to declare the Highway shown hatched blue on the attached drawing to be Highway maintainable at the public expense.

Consultation on a draft Local Development Order (LDO) for electric vehicle charge points

The meeting was scheduled to discuss a draft Local Development Order (LDO) for the installation of electric vehicle charge points on front elevations of properties without off-street parking.

The report pack stated that increasing the use of electric vehicles is a crucial step towards achieving the UK's net zero target and the council's own commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030. The council was asked to consider introducing a LDO to allow for the installation of electric vehicle charge points on the front elevation of residential properties that do not have off street parking, without the need to apply for planning permission. This would enable residents to charge their vehicles on the public highway directly in front of their home.

The report pack stated that the LDO would allow the council to support residents who lack off-street parking provision but still wish to adopt zero-emission vehicles, and that the council recognises the importance of providing practical and legal pathways for at-home Electric Vehicle (EV) charging in these constrained urban settings.

The installation of charge points under the LDO is intended to be used in conjunction with a cross-pavement cable channel, for which permission had been approved by the Executive Member on 08/11/2024.

The council was asked to endorse and approve the draft Local Development Order (LDO) for consultation in line with requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015³. The report pack noted that reporting the outcome of consultation and recommendation to adopt the final version of the LDO would be subject to a future Executive Board meeting.

The report pack stated that the UK has committed to net-zero carbon emission by 2050 and this commitment is legally binding. Transport was responsible for 29% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, making it the largest emitting sector of the UK economy. Over half (54%) of the UK's transport emissions comes from cars and taxis. Electric vehicles offer a way to reduce these emissions, because battery-electric vehicles produce zero carbon emissions at the tailpipe.

The council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and committed to work with residents and partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030. In its Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) 2024/25, the council sets out its commitment to support the transition to electric vehicles in the borough. The council is also consulting on a new Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Lancashire, which has been prepared in collaboration with Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council under the Lancashire Combined County Authority transitional arrangements. One of the LTP's 'future-ready networks' workstream policies relates to accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles.

The report pack stated that the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund is a UK government program that supports local authorities in England to effectively implement such policies, with the goal to improve the availability of charging stations for EVs.

The LDO would apply to all privately owned residential properties within the borough of Blackburn with Darwen except:

• Residential properties located within Conservation Areas⁴.

• Listed Buildings[^6].

• Residential properties where highway safety or site-specific physical constraints prevent safe or lawful use of the charge point in conjunction with a cross-pavement cable channel. This would be confirmed by the Highways Authority at the cable channel approval point.