THE potential health risks of any development on the old Turner Brothers asbestos factory site will be considered before any building plans are given the go-ahead.

Government experts are to carry out a full health impact assessment, which will take into account the effect of any building work on the neighbourhood, before councillors can consider a 600-home plan.

The long-awaited breakthrough comes after a fierce 18-month campaign, during which residents have voiced grave fears about asbestos contamination on the Rooley Moor Road site. It has been welcomed by Save Spodden Valley's Jason Addy, especially as the Health Protection Agency review will include a public consultation.

He said: "This is good news as we have been asking for this assessment for a long time.

"It is such a huge planning application that the issue of asbestos contamination must be looked at, along with contamination from other nasty substances like benzene. We are grateful this issue is now receiving the attention it deserves."

Head of planning Ken Smith announced the launch of the review at a meeting with representatives from various bodies, including director of public health Dr Sheila Will.

The planning application has been put on hold while the council also waits for independent consultants, Atkins Global, to release their report on possible contamination.

Mr Smith said: "Right from the outset, Dr Will has said we will have to undertake a health impact assessment into how the developers handle the contamination. It will be pointless starting the assessment immediately while we wait for the Atkins Global report.

"This will be made public soon and, while it is not the be-all and end-all, it will take us on to the next stage in dealing with this application. I don't know what the full details of the health impact assessment will be but it will involve a consultation with local people and will have to take into account the history of the site."