A CONTROVERSIAL plan for a business park on land earmarked as green belt is set to be given the go-ahead.

The proposal for 24 acres of land between Barrowford Road and Lower Clough Mill, Barrowford, is set to be discussed tomorrow at a council meeting.

And despite the residents and councillors expressing concerns over traffic problems and the impact on the nearby Carr Hall Road conservation area, the scheme is recommended for approval.

Members of Pendle Council's Barrowford and Western Parishes' Committee are set to make the decision tomorrow on whether the development, which has been in the pipeline for 13 years, will be given the go-ahead.

That decision will later be ratified at a full council meeting.

If passed, the land would be transformed into 23 business units by developers, Peel Investments.

However, a raft of conditions are likely to be made, including the completion of an ecological survey to see if any protected species live on site, a public transport plan and flood reduction works.

Part of the development would be built on land which has been earmarked as green belt in the yet-to-be approved Pendle local plan.

Committee chairman Councillor Linda Crossley today said she expected a heated debate on the 130,000 sq ft development.

She said: "I am expecting quite a few residents to give us a view on the plans for the business park.

"One of my greatest concerns is the traffic impact.

"The Nelson and Colne College expansion is going ahead which will have an impact and by adding the business park we are going to end up with problems.

"There is also a concern about the land which could become green belt.

Daniel Bormad, for Peel Investments said a lot of interest had already been shown in the site which would be for office use only.