A CAMPAIGN to stop 100 homes being built at the edge of a town on a greenfield site has been won.

Around 100 people attended a meeting to see Pendle Council’s development committee reject plans to build the homes on a field north of Meadow Way, near Skipton Road in Barnoldswick.

The committee voted unanimously to refuse the outline application by Future Habitats Limited.

The outline plans were refused because of the proposed development’s impact on open countryside, heritage assets and landscape character.

The proposed houses would have been built near the Greenberfield Lock, a grade-two listed lock which was built in 1817.

Councillors and residents had launched a ‘hands off’ campaign in a bid to stop houses being built on the greenfield site, after concerns of lack of infrastructure to cope with extra residents and flood risks were raised.

More than 80 letters of objection were sent to the council against the proposals.

Following the meeting, campaigner Ian Lyons, who is also an Earby town councillor, said: “It’s been a big challenge trying to relay information to residents and ensure they had enough time to get a submission into Pendle Council and get along to the important meetings.

“But the result of the meeting has made it all worthwhile.

“Whilst it may not be completely over, and I suspect the developers may appeal or submit a different application, it’s a big win for residents and we can be happy with the result for now.

“I want to say a big thank you to everybody that helped me to campaign against the development.”

Within a planning document, a spokesman on behalf of the applicant said the proposal would have offered a ‘high quality development’.

Speaking at the time of the application’s submission, Cllr Jenny Purcell, who represents the area on Pendle Council, said Barnoldswick could have become a ‘concrete jungle’.

She said: “We don’t have the infrastructure, we don’t have the schools, the doctors surgeries, there’s not enough to cope with extra houses.

“There’s lots of nice houses in Barnoldswick that are not sold, why can’t people buy those instead.

“It makes me very frustrated because new houses do not solve any problems, they create more.”

At the meeting, committee member Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said: “I was happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with residents on the night.

“Even if infrastructure was put into this application, I still would not build houses here.”

Representing Barnoldswick Town Council, Cllr Claire Teale said: “We strongly objected this proposal. Building on this field would have destroyed this special area.

“Greenberfield Locks is a ‘jewel in the crown’ for the canal and is of national and local significance.”