CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 54 homes on the site of a mill in Pendle have been withdrawn -- but the scheme is not dead say planning bosses.

Trawden-based horticulture firm LBS applied for permission to build the apartments on its Standroyd Mill site.

Under the scheme the company intended to partly demolish the mill in Cottontree Lane and renovate the rest into the homes.

However, after planning officers at Pendle Council raised doubts about vehicle access to the site and conservation concerns, the company has gone back to the drawing board.

It is believed they will resubmit amended plans in the coming weeks.

Pendle councillor David Robertson said many residents were concerned about the loss of residential parking.

He said because it was a major scheme LBS would be required to give money for a community project, and suggested this could be used to improve the car park in Ball Grove, solving the problem.

Trawden Parish Council will discuss any proposed development when it meets next Monday.

Coun Roberston will attend the meeting with leader of Pendle Council Alan Davies, and said residents would be able to voice their concerns to the authority's planning officer, Jim Bennett.

He added: "The original plan was for quite a bold plan which would have made for an interesting development.

"However, the problems of access and traffic flow around the site appeared not to have been fully thought through.

"Residents were very concerned about the loss of parking and traffic flows particularly at the junction of Trawden Road and Winewall Road."

Mr Bennett confirmed the withdrawal because the authority raised concerns about access and the fact the mill is in a conservation area.

He said: "I can confirm the scheme has been withdrawn. We were not happy with certain aspects of the scheme and we told them to withdraw it.

"The company have intimated they are likely to resubmit the plans and they are likely to do this within the next few weeks addressing the concerns we raised."

LBS declined to comment.