BUILDERS are being ordered to pull down two houses that tower above nearby properties, and have been slammed for "blatantly disregarding plans."

Ribble Valley Council's planning committee has decided that Barnfield Construction, of Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, must demolish the semi-detached properties in Ribblesdale Square, Chatburn.

More than 50 nearby residents claimed the houses towered above their properties and affected their privacy.

Officers were instructed at an earlier meeting to take action to force the firm to comply with original plans.

Barnfield then offered to remove upstairs windows at the back of the properties and replace them with roof lights so nearby homes would not be overlooked.

Officers recommended deferring the matter to Ribble Valley Council chief executive Dave Morris for approval.

But residents, with the backing of Chatburn Parish Council, claimed the houses would still be an eyesore. Resident Chris Meredew said: "The firm was told to stop working in July, before the ground floors of the houses were completed, but instead worked into the night to get them finished.

"The houses tower above our properties and bricking up the windows isn't an acceptable solution. They are an eyesore."

Chatburn councillor Ted Boden said Barnfield had been warned not to continue with construction.

He said: "They were told if they continued they did so at their own risk, but instead worked all hours to get the houses finished.

"The developer has blatantly disregarded plans and ignored the advice of officers.

"Now we are being asked to defer and delegate the matter for approval. We have been put in a terrible position."

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the revised plans and officers were instructed to take enforcement action.

The firm will now have to comply with original plans for the houses or pull them down.

Nobody at Barnfield Construction was available to comment.

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