A COUNCIL planning chief today said it could not turn back the clock on a controversial freeze on new home building.

The Hyndburn Council officer spoke as the authority was criticised after approving 15 homes in New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, which had already received outline planning permission.

The officer's recommendation for the development on the former Immanuel Church School, which is being used as a parish hall, follows conditional approval nearly three years ago.

The policy was implemented because the county council told Hyndburn planners to remove a backlog of housing developments that had already been granted permission.

To do this, Hyndburn Council has had to reduce the number in its annual build from 200 to 110 as featured in the Joint Local Structure Plan (JLSP). It has already granted permission for more than its quota over the next five years, resulting in the freeze.

The ruling has meant the council prevented an elderly couple from turning their home and business back into two houses.

Lorna and Russel King needed permission because of ill-health.

"I'm speechless. I can't believe they can even consider this," said Mrs King, 64, of Park Road, Great Harwood. "The council does not seem to have any common sense. We needed to sell because of ill-health but the council won't let us.

"This is even though the plans would make the street more attractive. Our building needs a lick of paint and has become a bit of an eyesore, but I can't do it because of my arthritis."

The Kings needed to sell-up after Russel, 65, suffered a stroke in 2001 and was left unable to work at their KBS Catering firm or climb the stairs to the first floor flat.

After spending all their savings and being refused permission to turn their home and business into a Chinese takeaway they were made an offer by Whalley builder Carl Bowker who wanted to turn it into two houses.

Hyndburn Council planning officer Brendan Lyons said: "As this permission has been granted in outline form the principle of a residential development on the New Hall site can't be refused. It is a permission and we can't turn back the clock. Had this application been made as a new application it would also certainly have been refused."

But Mr Bowker said: "Even though the outline application was approved before this policy it seems right that if the council are going to be strict about it and not let new homes to be built, they should be strict with all applications."

Coun David Myles said: "I am totally against this new policy that is being brought forward. It was me that said at the last planning committee meeting, when Mrs King's application was refused, that some sense needs to be brought in. At the end of the day she was not building anything new."