PROPOSALS to build almost 70 new homes could provide a 'welcome overhaul to an area subject to fly-tipping' if given the green light.

Plans have been submitted to Hyndburn Council to build 67 new houses on the land between Salisbury Street, Park Road and Balfour Street in Great Harwood.

The proposals from Urban Life (Manchester) Ltd include 11 two bed properties, including five bungalows, along with 36 three bed and 20 four bed homes.

Cllr Noordad Aziz, who represents Great Harwood on Hyndburn Council, said the proposed development would form part of a positive overhaul of the area.

He said: "The whole area over that side of the town is changing.

"The plans would bring more to that site, there is clearly nothing happening there at the moment.

"It is somewhere that can be subject to fly-tipping at present.

"It needs a bit of an overhaul of that area and hopefully this should be the start of that.

"It is also part of a government drive to build more houses.

"I'd rather these houses be built on old brownfield sites such as this rather than building on green spaces which bring something unique to the town."

The development comes after plans were submitted to Hyndburn Council to build 42 homes off nearby Wood Street in Great Harwood.

Work also recently began on building 217 homes on Lyndon Playing Fields to the east of the site.

All properties in the latest plans would have private rear gardens and parking and a total of 154 parking spaces would also be created as part of the plans.

A public consultation was held at Great Harwood Golf Club the end of last year by the applicant to give residents a chance to have their say before plans were finalised.

The applicant said the response was 'mostly positive' with several residents noting how the land is 'an eye-sore at present'.

The most common concerns raised were traffic issues, but changes have since been made by the applicant to restrict access to Salisbury Street as a consequence.

A statement of community involvement from the applicant said: "It is clear from the consultation that the principle of the proposed development is accepted by

the majority.

"Feedback on the proposed development was overwhelmingly positive.

"A number of reservations were raised however with regards technical matters, social services and impact of traffic onto existing streets.

"The development has been revised to take account of such comments wherever possible."