PLANS to build two new units at Junction 7 Business Park, Clayton-le-Moors, have been approved by Hyndburn Council despite opposition from local residents.

Developer Key Investments Ltd applied for permission to build either two industrial units or two warehouse units with office accommodation on land in Blackburn Road.

The company had amended the plans by moving the lorry parking and skip areas further away from nearby houses in Collingwood, and by providing landscaping to screen the houses from the new units.

But residents were still unhappy about the proposals because they feared they would result in an increase in noise disturbance during construction and once the buildings were in use.

They were also concerned about the size of the proposed buildings and the fact that it was uncertain what type of firm would occupy them.

Speaking at the meeting Collingwood resident Michael Wright said: "People living in Collingwood have a number of grave concerns abut this application.

"The building is 16 metres tall and dwarfs any other building on the site and no amount of landscaping would screen it from us.

"We currently enjoy an open landscape, but this will be considerably obscured."

He said: "If this application goes ahead we will have to endure months of noise, disruption and dust from the construction. Then once it is in use there will HGVs using the site 24 hours a day.

"Many of us have children whose sleep will be disrupted by the noise that that will cause."

But the committee voted in favour of the development, adding a condition restricting construction times and one requiring the developer to come back to them with plans for security lighting and cameras.

Coun Tim O'Kane said: "This land has been identified in the Local Plan as an industrial site. There used to be a huge building on there but for the last 20 years it has been flat and a bit of an eyesore.

"I think any problems with the site have been addressed in the amendments and the conditions being recommended."