FRESH plans have been submitted to build 75 properties including apartments, houses and retirement accommodation in Whalley.

The application for 29 houses, 20 apartments and 26 retirement housing units has been submitted by Kendal-based developers Oakmere Homes (Northwest) Ltd for land off Accrington Road.

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In 2012, Ribble Valley Council gave approval for 37 bungalows and 40 retirement properties to be built on the site, but no work has been started since.

The applicant said the alterations in the new proposal “reflect the changes in the housing market” and said work had been done on the flood prevention strategy.

But campaigners said the site has only just dried out from the Boxing Day floods in Whalley and it is in the middle of a Environment Agency flood risk map.

Nick Walker, former chairman of the Save Whalley Village Action Group, said: “It is a disaster waiting to happen. The field has only recently dried out from the recent floods and that field is smack bang in the middle of the Environment Agency’s flood risk map.

“How are people who buy homes on that site going to be able to get insurance at that site?”

In a design and access statement, the applicant said: “The changes to the scheme reflect the changes to the housing market since the original permission was gained.

“The site design scheme is a joint venture with Oakmere Homes providing the affordable and individual dwellings and a specialist retirement home design.

“Since the previous application, the site owner has undertaken a great deal of market research as to what is the most appropriate type of housing for this site.

“Also, since the last application, a great deal of additional work has taken place on the flood prevention strategy for the site, which in turn has had an impact on the proposed layout.

“The parking for Whalley village remains in a similar place to the previous permission.”

The application will go before Whalley Parish Council’s planning committee on July 21, and a final decision will be made by the borough council’s planning committee later this year.