A DEVELOPER'S plan to construct 500 homes on the outskirts of a Pendle village will be decided on next week after it was rejected by councillors.

Peel Investments is seeking permission to construct the homes from the Barrowford bypass to Wheatley Lane Road and across the the Wheatley Springs estate on the edge of Barrowford.

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The plans, for the 17 hectare hillside site were unanimously rejected by Barrowford and Wester Parishes Committee earlier this month.

However, the decision now transfers to Pendle Development Management Committee, who will deliberate on the proposals on Monday, January 25.

The initial decision on the plans rests was with Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee.

But after the councillors defied the officers’ recommendation the application is referred to the authority’s panel for a final ruling.

The ‘masterplan’ for the area, labelled Trough Laithe by the company, has met anger from nearby residents who cite the recent flooding as evidence of the dangers of large developments.

An active campaign group called Save Trough Laithe has hundreds of supporters.

John Enderby from the group has written to the Prime Minister outlining the group's concerns.

He said: "The plans were rejected unanimously by the local planning committee, signalling the depth of justified objection there is to this project.

"However, on January 25, the application goes before Pendle Development Management committee, on which there is not a single councillor representing our ward.

"We believe there is ample recent evidence of the consequences of unfettered building on land drainage and the resulting effects downstream."

Councillor Christopher Jowett, who represents the area on Pendle Council, said: "There are several concerns among residents and the I would describe the plans in their present form as 'nonsense'.

"There are too many homes planned and I can see problems with access and vehicles getting in and out of the site."

In a leaflet published when plans were developed, Peel Investments said the site will give a £3.7m new homes bonus to the council, £900,000 to Lancashire County Council and £860,000 in council tax to Pendle Council.

They claim there will be a £9.5m ‘uplift’ in gross annual income from the new employed residents given construction jobs.

A Peel Investments (North) spokesman said: "These proposals will provide up to 500 high-quality family homes set within a network of footpaths and existing and proposed green space. A proportion of these homes will be affordable.

“The new housing will sit alongside Riverside Business Park and will be served off Barrowford Road, close to junction 13 of the M65."