A MOVE to designate part of Colne a conservation area has been criticised by a planning consultant.

Andrew Brown, of Barnsley-based Brown Environmental Design, was called in by the owner of land between Lidgett and Bents who claims Pendle Council is trying to find a way to stop the area being developed.

House builder Tay Homes has applied to build houses on part of the proposed conservation area off Skipton Old Road. Its planning application, which sparked a massive outcry among local residents, will be decided at a public inquiry in May.

The council's policy committee is recommended to agree the conservation area boundaries on Thursday.

More than 100 people signed a petition backing the move.

But council planning manager Andy Wiggett, in a report to the committee, warns: "The committee should be clear that a conservation area should only be designated for reasons of special architectural or historic interest and the desirability to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the area.

"Conservation areas should not be designated as a means of discouraging unwanted development or attracting grant aid (for example) where there is no demonstrable special interest in the local context."

Mr Brown, in his report, said: "I consider that the character of Lidgett and Bents is marginal in terms of the criteria for the designation of a conservation area and the proposals could devalue the other conservation areas in Pendle. In addition I consider the proposed boundaries are inappropriate."

He pointed out more than half the proposed conservation area consists of fields.

A study of Lidgett and Bents found it began as a farming area before developing into cotton handloom weaving in the 18th and 19th centuries. The earliest surviving building is Standroyd Farm which was built in the late 1600s.

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