THE "suburban" design of 18 new homes proposed for a north Lancashire village has met with disapproval from planners.

Applicant John Simm is seeking outline planning consent for the two-storey dwellings on land at Whittington Farm, Main Street, Whittington, near Kirkby Lonsdale.

The local developer also hopes to convert a barn into a four-bedroom home and shop/cafe, and to demolish agricultural buildings on the 0.9 hectare site, used as a working dairy farm.

Lancaster City Council planning officers are recommending refusal when the planning and highways regulatory committee meets on Monday, January 7.

In a report, they state the quality of the housing design has "diminished significantly" since outline consent was originally given in 2016, and the revised layout is more formal and rigid.

Although the white-rendered properties would now feature stone facing and chimneys, they say they still look "suburban" and would not preserve or enhance the conservation area. They said the designs "unfortunately" felt like "a throwback to a 1980s housing scheme".

Mr Simm, the developer, told planners the site has been marketed "without success", hence the need to change the original approved plans.

Whittington Parish Council has supported the plans with no objections.