A RIBBLE Valley property developer has abandoned his controversial plans to build a futuristic country house after bowing to public pressure.

And Gerald Hitman has said he will now consider auctioning off the green belt farmland site off Clerk Hill Road, Wiswell.

He decided to make the planning U-turn as he felt it would have been "unneighbourly" to continue.

He added: "With great regret I have withdrawn the application. I think it is a great shame that the house will not now be built."

The plans sparked over 50 objections, including those from local residents in Wiswell, Read, Simonstone and Sabden. In January, campaigners received backing from Ribble Valley councillors.

Watched by more than 50 members of the public, the planning and development committee backed officers' opposition to Mr Hitman's farmland retreat at Wiswell.

Councillors agreed to register their objections to the mansion with the Government's planning inspectorate, which was due to hold a public inquiry until Mr Hitman decied not to press ahead.

Mr Hitman had argued that the house would add to the look of the area and justified planning approval for a green belt site.

David Taylor, of Hollins Farm, Sabden, said: "We are absolutely delighted and hope he sticks to it. There was an enormous feeling against the planning so we feel like a fight has been won.

"It was the wrong thing in the wrong place and would have caused alot of harm to a beautiful valley."

The firm submitted its plan during the foot-and-mouth crisis, when planning officers were instructed not to go on to farm land in affected areas.

If an application is not determined within eight weeks, the applicant can take it to the planning inspectorate, which makes the decision.

Mr Hitman and his wife Linda had wanted to build a futuristic house, set on three levels, in about 50 acres of farmland which they bought when Lawsonsteads Farm near Wiswell was sold off.

The house would have had five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a swimming pool, courtyard and a viewing gallery.

But the property devloper had always stressed that the house on farming land between Deer Park Wood on the edge of Wiswell and part of Whalley's Golf Club was a commercial proposition, with the planning application submitted under the name Brockhall Village Ltd.

Mr Hitman was responsible for the exclusive housing development which sprang up on the site of the old Brockhall Hospital in the 90s.