CONTROVERSIAL plans for 59 homes on the site of a former pickle factory are being recommended for approval.

Developer Barratt Homes wants to build a mixture of houses and apartments at the Peel Fold Mill site in Stanhill Village, Oswaldtwistle.

But there have been five letters of objection and a 200-name petition handed to Hyndburn Council against the scheme.

Stanhill Village Committee has also hit out at the scheme, saying it was too big for a village where just 300 live.

Last year, councillors rejected the plans over concerns about the scale of the development, as well as the height of the three-storey apartments.

Barratt appealed against this decision and a public inquiry had been due to take place next month.

However, Hyndburn councillors withdrew their concerns in December and Barratt re-submitted the plans.

And council officers are now recommending the scheme be approved by councillors when the planning committee meets on Wednesday.

A report said the council needs more sites for housing to meet new government targets. The report also says that highways concerns have been addressed, as long as a bus stop in front of the mill is moved, with Barratts footing the £10,000 costs.

In addition, one of the three-storey blocks is now planned for a part of the site where it will not affect residents as much, the report says. Barratts has also proposed to make the houses and apartments in a style in keeping with Stanhill's existing sandstone and slate roof properties.

The report concludes: "The site is occupied by derelict industrial premises which are having a detrimental effect on the local environment.

"Although it is currently not in use, the premises could be re-occupied and refurbished for further industrial use for which there are no planning controls over hours of operations, types of industry or number of vehicles, using the site.

"Approval of a scheme for residential development would remove the industrial use and the current environmental blight and result in a scheme which is acceptable."

The site had became a target for vandals and arsonists for the past seven years since the food factory closed.