Pendle Council’s West Craven Committee has agreed to defer a decision on a planning application which could see 29 homes built off Long Ing Lane in Barnoldswick.
Although the application is for access only at this stage, councillors unanimously voted to defer making a decision until June’s meeting.
The homes proposed within the application on the 0.98 hectare site would comprise of four two-bedroom houses, 16 three-bedroom homes and nine four-bedroom dwellings, according to a Pendle Council report.
Mr Robert Crolla, representing applicant Stirling Investment Properties LLP, told the meeting the proposal at pre-application stage had received “support in principle” from Pendle Council and was located within Barnoldswick’s designated settlement boundary.
Mr Crolla said the planned development was in a good location, well served by public transport and said Pendle Council lacked a five year supply of deliverable housing.
Mr Crolla went on to say the development would have economic benefits too, with the council receiving a new homes bonus from central government, council tax receipts and additional expenditure from homeowners within Barnoldswick.
But two members of the public spoke against the proposal.
David Hendley, who lives in Moss Side, highlighted that the planned location was on a greenfield site when there were “various” brownfield sites he could think of including one already in Long Ing Lane which already had access.
Other issues raised by Mr Hendley included pressure on schools and the doctors surgery, bats and other wildlife in the area, the proximity of houses to existing homes and flooding.
He also raised traffic concerns on access and its location saying: “I think this would cause problems. I would think that the traffic should be looked at very closely indeed.”
The meeting also heard from another resident, Mrs Parker, who said springs are delivered from L&P Springs from Valley Road to Silentnight “20 times a day”. She said: “When you get more houses it’s going to be so busy.”
Chairman of the Committee Coun. David Whipp said members needed to consider various issues further.