Homes plan for Oswaldtwistle eyesore backed (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Homes plan for Oswaldtwistle eyesore backed

5:00pm Friday 27th July 2012 in News

RESIDENTS are backing plans for a derelict site to be transformed into a housing development after a long running campaign.

A group in Stanhill Village, Oswaldtwistle is backing a proposal to bring a detached housing development with open views of the countryside to the arson-hit and vandalised former Peel Fold Mill.

The plans would see 36 detached homes built in stone in a variety of styles, with a landscaped frontage, green spaces and concealed parking.

Known locally as the pickle factory, the eyesore site has been empty for over 10 years and has also been targeted for larger developments in the past, to the consternation of villagers.

In 2006, residents formed the Stanhill Village Residents’ Association in order to battle proposals from Barratt Homes to build an “over the top” development of 60 homes.

They hit out at the scale of the plans for the village, which has a population of just 300.

There followed a three-year costly legal battle to prevent the plan going ahead, which saw residents emerge victo-rious.

The new scheme submitted to Hyndburn Council is. however, said to have residents full support.

Group’s secretary, Richard Hooper, said: “Morris Homes consulted fully with us and this is exactly what we want to see happen with this site.

“The frontage is landscaped, because we were concerned at the contrast of modern build-ings with the row of traditional cottages across the way.

“We were always in support of housing for this site, but it had to be in proportion. This site is less than half the size of the Barrat bid and it also contains views of the open countryside.”

The application, for a mixture of three and four bedroom properties, is to be decided by Hyndburn Council’s Planning Commitee.

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