PLANS to demolish a former church and build a housing development have been given the go-ahead.

Developers have been granted conditional approval to demolish the unused Christian Institute Church in Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle to build four three-bedroom houses.

The scheme, which would consist of two sets of semi-detached houses and on-site parking for six cars, was approved by councillors at Hyndburn Borough Council’s planning committee meeting this afternoon.

However they made a condition that developers would have to demonstrate proper access to the car parking areas before work could commence.

At the meeting, The council’s development control manager, Brent Clarkson said: “The property is facing terraced houses and is close to shopping areas on Union Road - the development would fit in with it’s surroundings. Planning guidance would allow five units on this space, so four is an appropriate number.

“Access to the site at the moment is only pedestrian access - so a proper access road would be needed.”

One resident had objected to the scheme with concerns over parking issues and access for emergency vehicles. The letter claimed the street was already overcrowded with visitors to nearby shops parking on Melbourne Street. However in his report to councillors, Mr Clarkson said these fears had been addressed by providing adequate on-site parking and added that the highways authority had no objections.

Developers have been granted conditional approval to demolish the unused Christian Institute Church in Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle to build four three-bedroom houses.

The scheme, which would consist of two sets of semi-detached houses and on-site parking for six cars, was approved by councillors at Hyndburn Borough Council’s planning committee meeting this afternoon.

However they made a condition that developers would have to demonstrate proper access to the car parking areas before work could commence.

At the meeting, The council’s development control manager, Brent Clarkson said: “The property is facing terraced houses and is close to shopping areas on Union Road - the development would fit in with it’s surroundings.

Planning guidance would allow five units on this space, so four is an appropriate number.

“Access to the site at the moment is only pedestrian access - so a proper access road would be needed.”

One resident had objected to the scheme with concerns over parking issues and access for emergency vehicles.

The letter claimed the street was already overcrowded with visitors to nearby shops parking on Melbourne Street.

However, in his report to councillors, Mr Clarkson said these fears had been addressed by providing adequate on-site parking and added that the highways authority had no objections.