THE latest bid to knock down a former Waddington pub for housing looks set to fail.

Plans to demolish The Moorcock Inn in Slaidburn Road will go before Ribble Valley Council planning committee on Thursday.

But councillors have been recommended to refuse planning permission for the development, which would see seven houses built on the site.

The plans were submitted by S and A Thornber earlier this year who said: “It is demonstrated that there are considerable benefits associated with the proposed development and no identified dis-benefits or adverse impacts.

“There is no demonstrable planning harm caused by this development.”

But in a report prepared ahead of Thursday’s meeting, director of community services John Heap said the development was not suitable.

He said: “The use of local services and facilities by the occupiers of seven dwellings would provide some contribution to the local economy.

“It is, however, not accepted that this site is the right type and in the right location for a development of seven dwellings.

“It is considered that the proposal to provide seven dwellings in this isolated open countryside localtion would be contrary to and would be harmful to the council’s development strategy.

“The proposed development is contrary to the Ribble Valley Core Strategy as it would involve the construction of seven dwellings in an isolated open countryside location that do not meet an identified local need.

“Permission for the proposed development would create a harmful precedent for the acceptance acceptance of other similar proposals.”

The pub closed for the final time in 2010 and plans to demolish it for housing were knocked back in 2012 and a further application the following year was withdrawn.