PROPOSALS to reduce the number of houses being built in East Lancashire could have a 'big impact' on councils, it has been claimed.

The government has published a national consultation outlining plans to decrease the number of houses that have to be built per year.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said the plans were bizarre and would see less money coming into the borough.

However Ribble Valley Council leader Cllr Ken Hind said it would provide relief for villages which are under pressure to expand.

The proposal shows Blackburn with Darwen would have to build only 153 houses a year, not the current 625 outlined in its housing plan.

Pendle would have to build 165 a year, just over half of what it was told to build.

Ribble Valley would only have to build 172 instead of 280, Burnley would need 70 instead of 124, Hyndburn would need 60 instead of 213 and Rossendale would need to build 212 instead of 247.

Chorley is the only borough in Lancashire which would see an increase in the number of houses, from 417 to 634.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's leader, said: "A lot of time and energy was spent debating the current housing plan and now the government have proposed to go in another direction.

"The government are busy playing politics somewhere but its affecting our borough. It could have a big impact.

"We will look at the proposal and see whether it matches the needs of Blackburn with Darwen.

"I think it's really disappointing the government has moved in this way."

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said the government's proposals were bizarre.

He said: "It baffled a lot of the leaders when we saw these proposals.

"Pendle Council gets funding from the government if we build houses, but now they are telling us to build less houses, we will get less funding.

"Yes if you live near a field you may think its a wonderful idea for less houses, but then the amount of money the council has to spend will drop.

"Earlier this month we had the waste grant ended by Lancashire County Council, so we've had to find another £800,000. The government has not stepped in to help with that.

"Building houses is a delicate balance and we don't know where the government have got these figures from.

"This is a negative for Pendle."

County-wide there would be 3,234 houses built a year, 62 per cent of the current target, under the housing white paper.

Cllr Ken Hind, Ribble Valley Council's leader, said the plan did benefit some boroughs, including his own.

He said: "For communities like Whalley, Clitheroe and Sabden, already under heavy pressure from developers to build more houses, this will bring relief to residents and time to develop the necessary infrastructure associated with the planning consents already granted.

''The government have finally recognised that as far as building homes is concerned one size does not fit all for local authorities.

"We welcome the views of the public on this issue and recognise that we have little time to respond to the consultation."

The consultation period will end on Thursday, November 9.