A DERELICT site could be set for a new life as a housing estate.

Rossendale councillors are being urged to give the go-ahead to plans for six new homes at Greenhill, Rochdale Road, Bacup.

The site has been empty for more than 15 years since the closure of a petrol station. Plans, being considered by councillors today, are for two stone-faced semis and four bungalows.

Local planning officers recommend approval for the scheme, despite objections by the county surveyor that the site does not provide adequate parking and access for vehicles.

He is concerned that service vehicles would be forced to reverse on to a main road and residents would tend to park on the road rather than next to the houses. There are also concerns that the site is part of Thorn Wood Greenland, where building is normally banned. But a report to the planning sub-committee points out that the development would not compromise the greenland and would be preferable to the site's current appearance as a piece of derelict land.

Planners believe the developer's proposals for two parking spaces per house are adequate and that service vehicles would park on the main road rather than go on to the site.

The report adds: "The proposed development represents a high specification residential development of natural stone front properties, which will considerably enhance the appearance of the locality."

Councillors are being told that the plots are small but that the largest house is a three bedroomed semi and the other properties are small, two bedroomed bungalows.

They are being advised to approve the plan but place a number of conditions on it, including landscaping, agreement on building materials and a height restriction of one metre on boundary walls fronting Rochdale Road.

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