FEARS have been raised over a village losing its identity after plans to build a 'large' housing estate were revealed.

Joint applicants Seddon Homes Ltd and H and F Eccles and Son, have submitted plans to build the homes on land south of Brownside Road between Worsthorne and Burnley.

The proposals include 47 homes ranging from one to four-bedrooms and 94 car parking spaces.

If approved, the houses would fill the gap between the houses in Lindsay Park in Brownside and Worsthorne Primary School, forming a link from Burnley to the village.

H and F Eccles and son, which runs Butchers Farm in Ormerod Street, owns the land.

Residents took to social media and raised concerns about the impact this could have on Worsthorne.

Andy Devanney, from the village, said the build could have a negative effect on the area and spoil its characteristics.

He said: "The landowner has submitted this plan - as is their right - on land the the council has previously deemed unsuitable.

"My feeling is that it would mean that the village becomes a conurbation and will lose some of its identity.

"Also there are other sites in the village currently being considered as part of the local plan.

"If all these houses are built then it may put a strain on the local infrastructure.

"I think this development is disproportionate to the size of our village, but that's just my opinion."

The plans include access from Brownside Road and an area of open public space on the eastern side of the field.

Cllr Andrew Newhouse, who represents the village on the borough council, said if this development was allowed to go ahead, it would be the last green belt land between the village of Worsthorne and Burnley.

He said: "The village cannot take any development of this type and its something the borough council have tried to protect in the past.

"The road into the village at peak times boarders on dangerous around the school now.

"The sewerage and drainage systems were not built for the current size of the village, issues down Brownside Road have been occurring for a number of years now, this large development would surly add to that and again cause even more problems.

"At the moment this is just an application I do hope the council with the help of the local community via their comments will see sense and reject this application like the others it has in the past.

"I am not against developing in the village, the right development in the right place, like ones that have been granted in the past, renovating old buildings making use of space that is basically waste land."

In a planning document, a spokesman for the applicant said: "The scheme is deliverable.

"The fact the application is submitted jointly on behalf of a housebuilder adds weight to the deliverability of this scheme.

"It makes it achievable, with a real prospect that housing will be delivered at this site within the next five

years to assist in meeting the demand for family housing."