Villagers voice anger over huge housing estate bid which could leave them …

HUNDREDS of worried neighbours and councillors have voiced protests over one of the largest proposed housing developments in Burnley and Pendle’s recent history.

But development bosses at Pendle Council believe, with a £1.25million sweetener towards new school places and road upgrades pledged, that 500 new homes for Trough Laithe, near Barrowford, is acceptable.

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Residents believe that the village’s already congested roads will grind to a halt – and local schools and doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries will be swamped by the additional demand.

The Peel Investments (North) bid represents the majority of Pendle’s housing allocation for the next few years.

More than 200 letters of objection have been received by the borough council from householders as well as Barrowford Parish Council, with many insisting old industrial land should be considered before green fields.

Land bordered by the Riverside Business Park, Wheatley Lane Road and Warren Drive has been earmarked for the outline application, which would be reached off Barrowford Road.

County council education officials have requested a contribution of £1.02million towards the provision of extra primary school places, and another £250,000 has been suggested to pay for cycling provisions and crossings on the bypass.

It has also been recommended that an extended bus service should be created to serve the fledgling estate.

Campaigner Sue Nike, of Barrowford Labour Party, said: “We have all seen the flooding which has affected Barrowford recently – and this is a prominent hillside site that goes down into a flood plain.

“This goes against all the principles of what you shouldn’t be doing. If you add in a number of new roads, drives and cars then this is only going to make matters worse.”

Mark Porter, a prospective Labour councillor, said: “On its website the Peel Group prides itself on its regeneration and sustainability credentials.

“I can’t see how turning 17 hectares of green fields into unwanted housing does anything to regenerate Pendle’s real areas of need in Nelson, Colne and Brierfield.”

A Peel Investments (North) spokesman said: “Our vision for this site is to provide aspirational homes that create places for people to live, work and enjoy.

“These proposals will provide up to 500 high-quality family homes set within a network of footpaths and existing and proposed green space. A proportion of these homes will be affordable.

“The new housing will sit alongside Riverside Business Park and will be served off Barrowford Road, close to junction 13 of the M65.

“The submitted application is in the form of an outline submission, seeking the principle of constructing houses in this location and the access into and around the development.”

Planning manager Neil Watson said in a report: “The proposed housing development is acceptable in terms of highway capacity and improvements, education contributions, impact on landscape, adjacent conservation areas, and nearby listed building and protected trees.”

The initial decision on the plans rests with the Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee on Thursday.

But if councillors defy the officers’ recommendation it is likely that the application would be referred to the authority’s development management panel for a final ruling.