HOUSING bosses in Lancashire have called on the government to increase the number of new homes they can allow developers to build.

They say unless they are allowed to give approval for 73,200 new dwellings across the county up to 2016 they will run out of land available for new homes.

The government's Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) panel said Lancashire, including Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, can build an additional 63,200, but local housing bosses say this is not enough.

The figures were published in the draft regional planning guidance for the North West. The document also includes guidelines on regional transport strategies, waste, and the greenbelt.

County Coun George Slynn, chairman of Lancashire's planning committee said: "Taking into account the land already developed for housing since 1996, and the volume of land currently in the planning pipeline, we can foresee a shortfall in available land towards the end of the period this planning guidance covers.

"We are therefore asking the RPG panel to look again at the number of new dwellings allocated to Lancashire and to increase the figure by 10,000."

The RPG panel will meet in February to carry out a public examination of the guidance issued, and Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council will be taking part.

County Coun Slynn added: "The regional planning guidance, once finalised, will play an important part in shaping the future of Lancashire and the North West.

"It is important that we make our views known now so they can be taken into account during the public examination."