PLANS to create a Millennium home for Unsworth Cricket Club have been hit for six.

Despite winning Bury Council approval in January, the club and North West developers Bellway Homes must now face a public inquiry.

Towards the end of last year, Bellway Homes struck a deal with Unsworth CC to build 41 homes on a site at Unsworth Pole. In exchange for agreeing to sell their Parr Lane ground - their home for more than 100 years - the club would get a new ground on land at nearby Pole Lane.

Both schemes were given the green light by Bury's planning chiefs although the project required final consideration by the Department of the Environment due to its conflict with Green Belt issues.

Mr Stewart Crompton, managing director of Bellway Homes, said: "We are disappointed that, despite our proposal being approved by Bury Council, the Secretary of State decided to call it in for a public inquiry.

"We will be taking professional advice on whether we should continue with our proposal and the subsequent public consultation."

Officials at the club said the scheme would be put back by up to 12 months, but were optimistic the deal would go ahead.

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