AN ELDERLY couple are looking forward to moving from their home of 23 years after overcoming a series of planning setbacks.

Lorna King today said the end was in sight as a builder submitted a second application to convert her business and living accommodation into two flats.

The 64-year-old and her husband Russell, 65, who has suffered two strokes, first tried to sell their catering business to someone who wanted to turn it into a takeaway last year.

But Hyndburn Council planners blocked the scheme after imposing a ban on passing new home applications.

Then in September 2003 Chorley-based builder Carl Bowker said he would buy the property, in Park Lane, Great Harwood, from the couple.

But planners refused his application to reinstate a partitioning wall which would restore the building to two flats, even though there are still separate entrances.

Councillors said the application contravened a freeze on housebuilding in the borough brought in after the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan forced the council to slash its annual housebuild from 200 to 110 for the next five years. The problem was exacerbated by a backlog of more than 900 active planning permissions.

All looked hopeless for the couple, but in November Hyndburn Council approved a series of exceptions to the moratorium, including small conversions of existing buildings resulting in the creation of up to four properties, and developments which would regenerate rundown areas.

Members of the planning committee are recommended to approve Mr Bowker's resubmitted application when they meet tomorrow.

Mrs King said: "It's good news. It was stupid what they were doing. My husband has had two strokes and he's struggling to get up and down the stairs - we need out. Carl will not sign the contract until he gets planning permission and I'm not sorting anything out until that contract is signed. As soon as it goes through he will sign it.

"We expect to get out some time in February. The first thing is to get out and then we will take it from there.

"The end is in sight, it's been a long haul, it's been about six months and I'm very pleased. This place is too big for us now. We have eight rooms downstairs and six upstairs. My husband is getting increasingly immobile and his health has deteriorated a lot."