PROPOSALS for a £3million housing estate to provide accommodation for East Lancashire’s retired army veterans and homeless people will be debated tomorrow/today (Wednesday).

A planning application from Buildings for Humanity for site on Charter Street Accrington will be discussed by Hyndburn Council's planning committee.

The project aims to deliver simple, sustainable and low energy performance homes.

It seeks to build a 100 per cent affordable, 'zero carbon' housing scheme of 46 properties including a community training hub, communal growing space, private and communal gardens.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme for refusal despite the land having been provisionally given to Buildings for Humanity by the council's cabinet in September 2019.

The planning officers report says: "The proposal is to create a 100 per cent affordable, ‘zero carbon’ 46 property scheme across a mix of apartments and family homes.

"The proposed development includes a community training hub; communal growing spaces; private and communal gardens; and associated landscaping, parking, and cycle storage.

"The communal play area element of the development has been removed.

"The scheme incorporates 36 apartments and 10 houses."

The report recommends refusal of the application because insufficient information has been provided to allow the comprehensive consideration of its impact on biodiversity and ecology and an unacceptable loss of trees.