CAMPAIGNERS have voiced their upset after a planning inspector allowed the construction of 31 extra homes in Barnoldswick.

Councillors sitting on the West Craven Area Committee rejected the Stirling Investment Properties bid for land to the south of Long Ing Lane in June.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The concerns included the three-storey nature of the 31 properties and the potential effect on the town’s roads network.

Residents are already facing the prospect of nearly 150 properties being constructed on land on the site of Barnsay Shed, also off Long Ing Lane.

But ruling on the latest application, planning inspector Bern Hellier said that the principle of housing had already been established by another appeal decision in 2014.

And referring to the building’s height, Mr Hellier said: “The tiers of development would sit comfortably with the site contours. In this context three-storey split level development is a sensible design response to the landform.”

He also dismissed concerns about the loss of an informal open space and potential highway dangers as “not relevant”.

Allowing the appeal, he said: “There will be an impact on the outlook of occupiers of properties in Moss Side but separation distances from habitable rooms are sufficient to avoid an unreasonable degree of overlooking.”

An application for costs against Pendle Council, on the grounds the developer had worked on the design scheme in consultation with officers, covering the sloping nature of the site and three-storey element, was rejected.

Council officials stressed they had raised concerns about the “cluttered” effect of the overall development.

Cllr Marjorie Adams, who represents Coates ward, said: “I am very disappointed - we weren’t happy with the three-storey houses as we just didn’t think it was in keeping with the area.

“The amount of traffic coming out of there is also going to be horrendous. We’re also worried they will now develop the wooded area nearby.”