COMPLETION of the scaled-back blueprint for a development of hundreds of homes in East Lancashire has been delayed again.

The Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan was due to be completed in June, already a year late, but will now not be ready until December.

Hyndburn Council’s Cabinet will be told on Wednesday that the timetable for the strategy document has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

A report by Mark Hoyle, the borough’s head of regeneration, confirms that three proposals for a mixed employment and housing development had been dismissed as unviable and that two homes-only schemes were now being examined.

The scheme, which surfaced in January 2017, envisaged 2,000 homes on the former Huncoat Power Station and colliery sites and brought criticism.

Objections have centred on fears for its impact on roads and schools as well as the survival of a butterfly haven which is home to 21 different varieties.

The report to councillors says: “Significant employment uses could undermine the core garden village principles.

“The Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan is a major opportunity for housing growth in the borough.”

The blueprint will include an ecology report recognising Huncoat has key wildlife habitats including a significant one for butterflies and a supplementary highway study.

The revised timetable will see the choice between the two options for 1,100 or 1,685 homes made by the end of this month, the publication of the final masterplan made by the end of next month and its consideration by Hyndburn Council’s Cabinet in January.

Cllr Marlene Haworth, leader of Hyndburn Council’s Conservative opposition group, said: “This is a never-ending saga. Our group is generally in favour but we want to see the final masterplan before we make our considered response – preferably sooner rather than later.”

Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of the council, said: “The masterplan is making good progress.

“This is a real chance to bring high-quality housing to the borough.

“Huncoat is ideally situated for road and motorway links to Manchester, Preston and Yorkshire.

“We need to look at school provision and the highways network. It is critical that we get this right.

“There will be further consultation with local residents next year.”

The masterplan is expected to include safeguarding for the former power station railway sidings for future employment/rail freight use and a new road linking Altham Lane with the A56.

The scheme also aims to establish a ‘village centre’.