Education funding change at Land at Ellison Fold Way, Darwen
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Blackburn Planning and Highways Committee on 19 Feb 2026.
The site
The site is beside Ellison Fold Way, Ivinson Road and Priory Drive and was formerly Ellison Fold Colliery.
“The application site is Adjacent to Ellison Fold Way, Ivinson Road and Priory Drive, Darwen. It comprises the former Ellison Fold Colliery which was closed around 1913. The site as approved is shown below (McDermott Homes, 2021):”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approving the agreement variation because education places are needed across several settings and flexibility would help respond to future demand.
“Through discussion between the Council’s Education and Strategic Planning services, it is established that additional education places will be required across primary schools within Darwen, secondary schools in the borough and additional SEND places in the borough.”
“Accordingly, it is necessary to embed flexibility into the S106 to allow the Council to respond to future education demand in whichever setting it arises.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Education officers reported increased demand for specialist places, and no comments were received through public consultation or from ward councillors.
“The demand for assessments for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s) has increased year on year, with the total in 2024 more than double that of 5 years previously. The number of children and young people in the LA with EHCPs also continues to rise each year. This increased demand is being seen regionally and nationally.”
“Public consultation was carried out by display of site notice. Ward Councillors were consulted directly. No comments were received.”
Officer report
The committee decision
The committee approved the variation of the existing Section 106 Agreement.
“That the variation of the existing Section 106 Agreement be approved.”
Minutes
Sources
- Blackburn Planning and Highways Committee minutes, 19 February 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Blackburn's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Blackburn
- Date
- Thursday 19 February 2026
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
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- Blackburn committee decisions →
This committee's year
45 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.