COUNCILLORS deferred considering proposals for a £3million housing estate to provide accommodation for military veterans and the homeless after more information was provided just 45 minutes before they we due to debate it.

Hyndburn Council’s planning committee were due to discuss an application from Buildings for Humanity for a site on Charter Street in Accrington yesterday/today/on Wednesday.

Officers had recommended refusal because insufficient information has been provided to allow consideration of its impact on biodiversity and ecology and an unacceptable loss of trees.

But 45 minutes before the meeting was due to start Scott Moon from the applicants provided further information on the scheme.

The committee voted to defer consideration.

Chairman Cllr Eamonn Higgins said: "I was quite excited by what I read but 45 minutes is insufficient time to consider it. Let us defer it until another meeting when we can go forward with it."

The project aims to deliver sustainable and low energy-performance homes for military veterans and homeless people from East Lancashire.

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