PLANS to build four detached houses on the site of the former Hide Restaurant in Colne met with opposition from councillors who said there had already been permission for enough houses on the development.

Despite planning officers recommending approval for the proposals, members of the Colne and District Committee agreed with residents that any more houses above the number already approved would spoil the appearance of the area.

Millbrook Developments Limited originally applied for permission to build 17 houses but were refused on the grounds of the effect on trees and the rest of the area which is Green Belt and an Area of Special Landscape.

Subsequent applications were submitted to the council and in September last year an application for 11 houses was approved.

The most recent application relates to part of that site, between Ball Grove Drive and the new access road to the development, which was intended for two two-storey houses. Resident Ian Brown, who spoke against the plans at the Colne and District Committee meeting, asked the council to keep the limit of houses to 11 to be in keeping with the adjacent country park. He said: "We have now got a three-storey development which is totally alien to that which is already on the site."

His comments were supported by Councillor Alan Davies who said: "We have been considering this now for three years and have reduced its density by about a third. I think we have got it right at 11 and can see no sensible reason for changing the views taken only three months ago when we resolved to pass it.

"It took a long time to get a development that was acceptable to everyone and I think we should be sticking very strongly to that."

Coun Davies also pointed out that if this application was given the go-ahead it would mean more traffic using Ball Grove Drive.

Six letters of objection containing 15 points of concern, including the loss of trees, unappropriate design, overdevelopment and parking, were received from residents.

The committee went against planners' advice and refused the application.