An application for five family homes to be built on ‘waste ground’ in a Ribble Valley village have been submitted to the council.

The original Packhorse site in Mellor Brow, Mellor, was a former stone-built storage building believed to have had multiple uses over the years.

The site was cleared ready for a block of apartments to be built there back in 2002, but these never came to fruition and the site has sat empty since.

Mark Harrison is now looking to build five family-sized homes on the site, which will each come with a minimum of three parking spaces and be in line with local characteristics.

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A design and access statement said: “Planning was granted in 2002 for nine apartments on a similar footprint to the ongoing building.

"The proposed apartment block was three storeys high and a mixture of materials were proposed.

“Since this application the site has been cleared with the exception of the proposed site access.

“What differs from the previous schemes and approvals is each property will now have their own private amenity space.

"This will consist of individual gardens and outside space with which each house will now benefit from.

“As long as most can remember, this site has been vacant and could be described as a waste ground.

"This application seeks consent for a well-designed exclusive development of five family homes.

“The quality of the build and traditional appearance of the proposed dwellings will help them stand the best chance of enduring the test of time.”

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Private gardens will be provided to the rear of each home while there will be stone paving and paths provided from the car park.

The site is bound by established woodland to the west and south, and there will be views of the stream from the rear gardens.

Anyone wishing to view the plans in full or wanting to comment on them should visit the council’s planning website.