PLANS to transform a former brickworks and cotton mill site by building 131 houses in a village are set for the final go-ahead.

But the developer has withdrawn four more houses from the original plan after neighbours raised a petition.

Homes are to be built on the site of the former Huncoat brickworks, off Lynwood Road.

Hyndburn Council has a freeze on applications for new homes in the borough but the planning committee approved an outline application for the site in October last year.

The council received 10 letters of objection, raising concerns about restricted views and the proximity of the houses to new homes on Yorkshire Street and Prospect Terrace. Councillors are recommended to approve the design and siting of the houses tomorrow.

The development will comprise small semi-detached and terraced homes and larger three and four-bedroomed houses.

It will also provide parking and a new footpath and cycleway along Lynwood Road.

A second cycleway between Highbrake Terrace and fields below the site will be included a emergency access.

Access to the estate will be from an existing roundabout off Station Road which will lead to a distributor road with cul-de-sacs branching off.

A report to the planning committee said the original application was for 135 houses but four houses to be built on Lynwood Road had been withdrawn after seven residents sent in a petition.

It says the layout has been altered to take account of highway requirements, the need for a waste water pumping station on the site and residents' concerns about the position of some of the properties close to Yorkshire Street.

And it adds: "This proposal will benefit and improve the area and provide improved links to the local school without significant long term harm to its environment."

The brickworks ceased production in November 1992 with the loss of 38 jobs.

Another part of the site was occupied by Perseverance Mill, built in 1853. After weaving stopped the mill was used for storage during the war and demolished in 1955.