AN East Lancashire council has told a public inquiry that it is satisfied with its procedures and decisions relating to the demolition and development of an urban renewal area.

Pendle Council has told a public inquiry it is satisfied with its procedures and decisions relating to the development of the Nelson West Renewal Area.

The statement came during the opening of the independent inquiry into the council's plans to compulsory purchase the first 160 of the 400 homes earmarked for demolition.

The inquiry, being held at Nelson Civic Theatre, was opened yesterday by the inspector, Philip Asquith, and is expected to last until the end of next week.

Mr Asquith said the purpose of the inquiry was for the council to justify its position in making the compulsory order for the houses in Nelson West and, for those objecting, to say why they think the order should not be confirmed.

The redevelopment scheme is part of the council's 10-year plan to transform the area -- in which prices of terraced houses have fallen as low as £5,000 -- creating better quality housing and more open spaces.

Four hundred homes were assessed by the council as unfit for human habitation, but English Heritage, along with other groups such as the Whitefield Conservation Action Group and Heritage for the North West, disagree and intend to give evidence to the contrary.

Timothy Jones, counsel for Pendle Council, said statutory consultation procedures were carried out before the council declared the Nelson West Renewal Area and no legal proceedings challenged the council's decision.

Mr Jones told the inquiry the council had carried out detailed inspections of the houses which revealed those in the clearance areas were unfit for human inhabitation according to government guidelines.

Further consultations were carried out following the council's declaration of the three clearance areas and its decision to make compulsory purchase orders. There was again no legal challenge.