CONTROVERSIAL plans to build houses on a Burnley industrial site have been given the green light -- as long as they meet environmental approval.

The site of 24-hour haulage firm Nightfreight, earmarked for the homes, has been a cause of concern for Greenbrook Road residents who have long complained about lorries rumbling past at all times.

But the firm is planning to relocate and David Poyner Homes has applied for outline planning permission to build homes on the site.

Residents have called the plans the "lesser of two evils". Ideally, they want the land to be a nature site.

There are also concerns the new housing will generate extra traffic.

But at a Burnley Council planning meeting, planning officer Paul Skinner said there were questions over whether the loss of industrial site would effect the local economy. He added that the plans would solve the environmental problems, while a major open area of green space and some industrial land would be retained.

Councillors gave their approval to the plans but environmental issues have raised another sticking point

For environmental health officers want a study to be carried out to assess the risk of contamination on the site. And they say previous reports suggest the land might not be sufficient for any more houses following a history of complaints of noise and vibration from nearby Futaba Tenneco.

In view of the concerns, councillors gave delegated approval to the head of planning and environmental services while the concerns are investigated.