TWO family homes in a village cul-de-sac have been recommended for approval as small care homes.

Hyndburn Council planning committee will debate applications for the conversion of the houses at 7 and 49 Bluebell Way, Huncoat, on Thursday.

Altham-based Trinity Care wants to turn numbers 7 and 49 into residential care homes for a mother and baby (or for two children) supported by up to three carers.

In August the deputy chairman of Hyndburn Council's planning committee Cllr Judith Addison expressed concern over the 'mushrooming industry' of such conversions.

Both the Bluebell Way applications are recommended for approval with conditions by planning officers despite residents' objections.

The proposal for number 7 is being debated at the request of Huncoat's Conservative councillor Danny Cassidy 'because of concerns about impact on local amenities'.

A planning officer's report says that it is detached house with two storeys, and attic and four bedrooms.

It revealed that 19 neighbouring residents have made objections including inadequate parking, highway safety, noise and disturbance, loss of housing. lack of safety for occupiers due to nearby railway and public house, adverse effect on local services and fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

It also reveals that Lancashire County Council's children's services department does not support this planning application.

The report on number 49 says it is also detached house with two storeys, an attic and four bedrooms.

It reveals that objections have been received from five neighbours including extra traffic and parking problems, possible anti-social behaviour and increase in crime, the safety of children, a possible fall in local house prices and that the conversion could bring the area down and give it a bad name

It adds that Lancashire County Council's children's services department does not support the application for reasons including the type of home being proposed is not an identified local gap in provision and having two children's homes in close proximity could make safeguarding the children more challenging.

Its submission adds: "Trinity Care is not a contracted provider of Lancashire County Council."

Both sets of residents' objections express concerns about the impact of having two such care homes on the same street.

The planning officers' reports in both cases conclude: "The proposed change of use of the dwelling house to a children’s care home would be likely to have minimal adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring dwelling houses or the residential area generally.

"The highway authority is content with the proposal as regards matters of highway safety.

"The proposal would be in accordance with the development plan."