PLANS for six flats designed for supported living are recommended for approval despite more than 100 objections.

A planning application was submitted to Hyndburn Council proposing to build six supported living units on land adjacent to Back Owen Street, Accrington earlier this year.

A similar scheme was knocked back by borough planners last year and applicants J&R Plant Hire UK were also unsuccessful in an appeal to government planning bosses, who said whilst the proposal would have an acceptable effect upon the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians; it would not make adequate provision to deliver social housing.

The latest application is due to go before the council’s planning committee next week, with members recommended to grant permission for the development.

The application has been brought to planning committee at the request of Cllr Paul Cox, on highway safety grounds.

Cllr Cox raised concerns the site has no pedestrian or cycle access and can only be visited by driving on back

streets

Seven individual letters of objection were received by the council as well as a petition signed by 108 people.

Among the concerns raised were loss of privacy, traffic and highways safety issues, inadequate parking and increase in crime.

A report to go before the committee states: "The application site comprises a vacant, previously developed plot located to the rear of terraced housing on Whalley Road and Owen Street.

"It is bounded by the railway line to the south, commercial units to the east and residential properties to the north and west.

"It is proposed that the site be accessed via a narrow alley to and from Whalley Road.

"The proposed development would provide residential care for people with learning disabilities/supported living and as such the amount of vehicles using the access to and from Whalley Road would be low – it is estimated to be some one vehicle per hour. "The highway authority has been consulted on the application and has not objected subject to a number of planning conditions being imposed should planning permission be granted.

"The applicant has resubmitted the planning application with a draft s106 legal agreement which seeks to make adequate provision in order to deliver the social housing element of the scheme."

Under the terms of the section 106 agreement, planning permission would be void if no provider is found.

The site is a former industrial plot which has been redundant and dilapidated for many years.

It is located behind Owen Street between the railway embankment and an existing terraced row of houses immediately to the north.

The proposal is a single storey courtyard development, consisting of 6 living units and associated landscaped gardens.

The units would be staffed by care workers who assist the residents to live a semi-independent life, with all necessary assistance on site.

The residents would fit the description of ‘mild to moderate’ learning difficulties.