MORE than 120 houses could be coming to Ribble Valley on farmland.

Gary Hoerty from Gary Hoerty Associates in Clitheroe has submitted plans for the two, three and four-bedroom homes on the former Highmoor Farm on behalf of VH Land Partnerships Ltd and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Foundation.

A report to planners said: “The proposed development will create an attractive residential development complementing the surrounding area.”

The developers are looking to ‘achieve a sustainable development that is well integrated with the existing settlement of Clitheroe'.

It will also provide ‘a high quality design delivering a mix of house types and sizes, including detached and semi-detached properties, with two, three and four bedrooms’.

The application could accommodate up to 125 homes which would be two storeys in height. It also says that the scheme would include affordable housing.

Cllr Donna O’Rourke, who represents the Salthill ward, is concerned about the over-development in Clitheroe as the land was bequeathed to Clitheroe Royal Grammar by Queen Mary in the 16th century.

She said: “I am quite mad about the amount of development in the area. The last parts of green land is being taken up and it will be lost soon.

“The land was owned by Clitheroe Royal Grammar and that has a little bit of history and now it is going to be sold.

“The traffic is going to be a concern as it is coming into the town especially with the development of the Standen estate too.

“The Government have announced they are relaxing the planning restrictions so it could get passed.

“Clitheroe is going to lose the character of being a market town with all the houses which is something the residents don’t want.”