COUNCILLORS have been warned they face costing a community upgraded sports pitches if they don't give their blessing to plans for 74 new houses in Reedley.

Members of the Brierfield and Reedley Committee this week deferred plans for Ashton Partnerships to build 74 homes on the former Lucas Sports Ground.

They said they preferred a previously approved planning application for 68 houses on the site.

But Lancashire County Council objected to that plan on the grounds that they didn't want a 'green' site to be developed.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now investigating -- with an inquiry planned for October --and planning officers at Pendle Council believe the new scheme has more chance of success because more houses are being proposed.

In recent years, Government has insisted on 'higher density' housing developments to reduce the amount of land they take up.

The Government has set a minimum target of 30 homes per hectare, and the approved application would have 27 homes per hectare. The new development would conform to Government standards.

Part of the plan includes upgrading football and cricket pitches on the site.

Stan Healey, Planning Officer for Pendle Council, has warned the whole application will be thrown out because it does not meet the Government's housing density criteria.

Mr Healey added even though the original proposal meets the council's local plan it was upgraded to 74 homes - 36 detached and 38 semi-detached houses- to meet Government regulations.

He said: "I think unless we meet the Government's standards the chances of the Government granting permission are limited. If it doesn't meet the requirements it has a better chance of being thrown out."

Since the sports ground was closed in 1994 there has been several plans to develop the area for housing.

Chairman of the Brierfield and Reedley Committee, Tonia Barton said councillors preferred the original scheme because it was in keeping with the area.

She said: "The planning brief was for a well spaced development to match the local surroundings."