PLANS to turn a house into a home for teenagers are set to be approved tonight, despite more than 800 objections.

Planning officers are recommending the proposal for Fernrock, in Harwood Avenue, Hoddlesden, be passed even though a petition containing 821 signatures and 355 letters of objection have been received.

Applicant Amjad Shah, who has worked in mental health for 14 years, intends to turn the building into a home for four teenage boys or girls who he describes as "disadvantaged".

He also said he would be on call in case of problems with the home.

But residents fear it will bring added crime and traffic to Hoddlesden.

Dawn North, who declined to give her address, said: "The villagers are very upset at the proposals for a residential property to be changed to a residential care home, a property recently purchased by Mr Shah who already has two properties in the Blackburn area.

"The other properties have had numerous instances where the police have been called out. The recommendation is to approve this planning application without really taking the residents' view into account.

"This is causing alarm to the many elderly residents in this rural location, not to mention the fact that there is a family with young teenage children directly adjacent to this property."

Mr Shah, 29, of Audley Range, said: "Fernrock exceeds all the requirements of the planning permission and we are definitely not going to be running a young offenders' institute. Every valid objection has been explained and met.

"My company does run supported lodging schemes in Blackburn for 16 to 18-year-olds and there have been 12 crimes in 13 months in relation to them but this proposal is nothing like those.

"This is for disadvantaged children, not those at risk of crime."

Regarding Mr Shah's other establishments, the report to Blackburn with Darwen planners said: "Both the other establishments have young adults, and are not subject to the same requirements or restrictions that 'Fernrock' will encounter in housing children."

The plans have been recommended for approval limiting the use to no more than four children and including a scheme for adequate parking.