A HALFWAY house for the homeless, in the middle of a retirement community, is set to be created after being given the go-ahead by planners in Colne.

Supporters of Joe Heyworth’s proposals for the former Delta nursing home in Keighley Road say it will be well-run by a qualified ‘good neighbour’ manager.

But officials from the Peter Birtwistle Trust, which has dozens of bungalows in the surrounding area, say the project is entirely inappropriate for the neighbourhood.

Councillors from the Colne and District Committee had put the project on hold and asked for extra information regarding the management of the proposed centre and the people it wants to house.

Alan Varley, Padiham businessman Mr Heyworth’s agent, said a housing manager with 10 years experience would be interviewing candidates for the live-in position.

The position itself would see he or she would monitor the hostel and provide support and assistance which would enable tenants to access training and work opportunities.

Mr Varley added: “This would be a properly managed, eight-bedroom house in multiple occupation, which is intended to offer accommodation to those in housing need.

“The terms of the tenancy will be properly enforced and the building also has Secured By Design status.”

But Alan Davies, chairman of the Peter Birtwistle Trust and former Pendle council leader, insisted that the hostel would bring problems similar to those experienced when the notorious Hendley Hotel, in Queen Street, took in guests.

Mr Davies added: “I think that this site is totally wrong for the client group and the risk to the immediate neighbourhood, and to these elderly people, around and about, is just too great to run.”

But Coun Tony Greaves said, aside from parking concerns, there were few planning grounds for rejecting the hostel.