A PLOT of land that has been given planning permission for up to 87 houses in Hoddlesden has gone back on the market.

Nolan Redshaw and JDP Charted Surveyors are jointly marketing the 7.3 acre land on the site of the former Hoddlesden Mill after it was given planning permission in November despite a large amount of opposition from residents.

East Rural councillor Julie Slater, who represents Hoddlesden, said that the company who were due to develop on the site could no longer do so due to too many conditions being placed.

She said: "The site has planning permission, however due to the planning department taking so long to do the planning and have put so many conditions on the site it is no longer viable for them to develop as they are a small company. So they have decided to sell the site on again, the agent informed me of this just before Easter.

"This is so very disappointing to the residents and myself as we were hoping after 10 years of the site being such as mess, it would become useful again and help our rural business.

"Once again the council have placed so many obstacles in the way the village has once more been left with an eyesore, which suffers from fly tipping and anti social behaviour.

"We are devastated. How long will it take to be sold again or will anyone even bother due to the conditions placed on it?

"I am absolutely behind it being used for housing, but I think 87 is too many and I hope that someone can come in and build perhaps around 60, which I think would look better and be less crowded."

The proposal for planning on the Johnson New Road site came after it was deemed unsuitable for employment uses after the mill was demolished in 2009 following a major fire.

Cllr Dave Smith, chair of the Blackburn with Darwen planning committee, said that all the conditions placed on the application were necessary.

He said: "We have to ensure that every development is safe and fits in with the area, we do not just put conditions on for the sake of it.

"I completely defend the conditions we put on this development and believe they are absolutely necessary."