PLANS to build a new home on part of a former school site could be turned down.

An application was lodged earlier this year proposing to build the house on land off Blackburn Road in Edgworth.

But a report due to go before Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee recommends the application should be refused.

Planning officer John Wilson said in the report that the proposal was not considered appropriate on green belt land and there were no special circumstances that would outweigh the harm caused to the green belt.

Mr Wilson added: "The proposed dwelling fails to meet the criteria of the National Planning Policy Framework by virtue of it not being a truly exceptional, outstanding or innovative design and which would harm the defining characteristics of the local area due to it being detrimental to the character and visual amenity of the surrounding area.

"The proposed dwelling, by virtue of its scale and position in relation to both the adjacent built and natural environment, has failed to adequately address the connection between the development, the green belt and the end-of-village setting."

Committee members will determine the outcome of the application in a meeting held at Blackburn town hall tonight.