A CONSULTATION meeting for plans to build the first 220 homes on the former Standen Estate in Clitheroe will be held on Monday.

The homes will be the first phase of 1,040 houses to be built on the site after Ribble Valley Borough Council approved plans two years ago.

The meeting, organised by developer Taylor Wimpey, will be held at St James’ Church in St James’ Street, Clitheroe, between 3pm and 7pm.

Steve Rush, chairman of the Clitheroe Residents’ Action Group, said that there will be a big strain placed on services with the first phase of development.

He said: “It’s not the only place that houses are being built. In other parts of the area 500 to 600 houses are being built so this would mean 700 are being built in Clitheroe.

“No-one in the Residents’ Action Group is against new housing, but without the infrastructure, the town won’t cope.”

A spokesperson from the council said: “Outlined plans concerned for the Standen site was given some months ago but no secondary application has been received.”

Mr Rush added: “Taylor Wimpey says that it will create jobs but it doesn’t, it creates jobs for people out of town, not the town itself.”

A spokesperson from Taylor Wimpey said: “As part of our plans for the development on Pendle Road, in Clitheroe, we will be making contributions to local infrastructure in excess of £3.5 million during phase one. This contribution will help towards creating more places in local schools, as well as sports and recreation facilities.

“The development already has outline planning permission and we intend to apply for permission to build approximately 220 new homes, to provide much-needed new housing “What’s more, we will be creating 132 temporary construction jobs.

“In order to protect local wildlife habitats, we will also be working extensively to protect the majority of existing trees and hedgerows, and introducing bird and bat boxes as well as significant new tree/hedge planting.”

It is not known when the full plans will go to council.