RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has described a decision to allow 363 houses to be built as a “sad day for the people of Longridge”.

Mr Evans had called for a proposal by developer Barrett Homes for houses to be built on and around Longridge Cricket Field in Chipping Lane to be reviewed by the planning minister.

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But the minister, Brandon Lewis, has rejected his request.

Mr Evans said: “I am incredibly disappointed at this decision. It is important for the people of Longridge, not just the local authority, to be listened to.

“Ninety nine per cent of Longridge people are against the over-development of the area, particularly this development.”

Originally Barrett Homes applied to build 520 houses, a new cricket club and a school but the number of homes was reduced by 30 per cent following a campaign from residents.

Cllr Ken Hind, chairman of Longridge Conservatives said he was not pleased with the decision.

He said: “Longridge will grow by 25 per cent if all the houses approved are built. By my estimates this means an increase in the population of 2,000 people.

“There has been virtually no approvals for new factory or commercial developments to create jobs for this increased population.

“The main thrust of our request was to get the minister to consider the planning rules concerning communities where two different local authorities were granting planning consents on either side of a boundary, as what is happening in Longridge.”

“We are all disappointed about the refusal by the minister. Councillor Swarbrick and myself campaigned against this development in the election.

“At the planning committee, councillor Jim Rogerson voted against the application and councillor David Smith spoke against it along with myself.

“The planning committee had listened to our arguments and in the first vote before the committee the application was rejected by seven votes to six, but was approved on a further vote in which two abstained.”

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Only a very small number of planning cases are called-in each year.

“We have decided not to call-in this planning case.”