PLANS for a major planning development in Oswaldtwistle look set to be rejected.

An application for 52 detached and semi-detached homes, a children’s nursery, and a care home were lodged with Hyndburn Council last year.

But a report written by chief planning and transportation officer Simon Prideaux has recommended the plans are refused, because they do not include affordable housing or enough open space.

Local councillor Peter Britcliffe said the news was ‘disappointing’.

The neighbourhood of new homes would have been built on the former site of Joseph Metcalf, in Brookside Lane, which closed in 2008 after trading for more than 120 years in East Lancashire. The development would have seen five bungalows, six four-bedroom semi-detached homes, 16 four-bedroom detached homes, and nine four or five bedroom semi-detached homes built.

Plans also show designs for a children’s play area, a 70-place children’s day nursery and a two-storey 30-bed residential care home.

A public meeting at Stanhill Working Men’s Club in September drew several comments from nearby residents. Most welcomed the idea, but several raised concerns over traffic in letters to the council.

In a report that will go before a planning committee on Wednesday, Mr Prideaux said developers failed to comply with core strategy policies. He said: “The proposal is contrary to planning policy. The proposed development comprises 100 per cent of open market housing with no provision for affordable housing.

“The proposed development fails to provide sufficient or suitable public open space on site, nor has an off-site contribution been made in lieu of on-site provision.”

He also said technical information concerning noise and flood-risk assessments were ‘insufficient’.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “If there are problems, they need to be looked into, but in broad terms, I would welcome this development with open arms.

“It would bring more people and extra trade into the area, so I’m disappointed, but I hope the council can speak to the developers, and an agreement can be reached.”