TWO new developments at a Ribble Valley private hospital complex have been given the go-ahead despite objections from local residents.

Neighbours were concerned that plans to build a single storey eight unit building with a lounge and games room, dining kitchen, clinic and office and to demolish a laundry building in favour of a recreation and catering unit with parking facilities at Kemple View, Longsight Road, Langho, would have led to a loss of privacy and an increase in noise and traffic.

But members of Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning and development committee felt both separate schemes proposed by Partnership in Care Ltd. were acceptable.

Most of the concerns were raised over the plans for the new building at Kenton, Kemple View, adjacent to two existing buildings, which will face towards the rear of properties in the nearby Rydings housing estate.

Billington councillor Graham Sowter said one resident he had spoken to had felt there would have been an increase in loud music and that the eight unit development at Kenton was a little too close to houses on the Rydings estate.

But he added: "The site, unlike others like it in the area, is providing additional employment. The Kenton building will provide for eight patients, giving an extra 25 to 30 jobs.

"I believe the building will be very low profile."

Wilpshire councillor Chris Holtom said: "Unlike other applications for Kemple View in the past, this is a new building.

"As well as providing new employment it also provides a very high level of patient care."

And planning officer John Macholc said the building had been resited to protect landscaping on the site and would involve some re-planting at the rear of the site.

He added: The building will be sunk into the ground so the impact on nearby properties will be very limited."

The second development involves creating recreational and staff dining facilities, multi-purpose rooms and a parking area on the former laundry site at Kemple View.

After considering the proposals Billington Parish Council said it felt the site and its height gave cause for concern, as did the effect it would have on nearby properties.

Mr Macholc said the proposal had been amended to reduce the height of the building adjoining the rear gardens of two properties on The Rydings estate, and said the elevation would face towards Jesmond, an existing residential block.

He said: "The building has few windows and it would be only those on the workshop and craft room that would look towards the rear gardens of the Rydings houses."

Existing trees would also minimise the visual impact, he added.

In October Partnership in Care Ltd. was given the green light to create a new 16-bedroom residential unit at the existing Denholme building at Kemple View.

The new unit will also include clinical rooms, dining facilities and lounge areas, which will blend with the recently-constructed occupational therapy building.

Kemple View, a private hospital, provides specialist psychiatric services, including rehabilitating patients who have been referred by the courts.