PLANS for almost 300 new homes in Burnley and Colne have been attributed to faster transport links between the area and Manchester.

A new scheme for 211 new homes on the Knotts Drive estate in Colne has been unveiled, while an application to build 72 houses on the former Cloverbrook site at Peel Mill, in Gannow Lane, Burnley, was submitted this week.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said the area was becoming more attractive to live in now the Todmorden Curve scheme, which would reinstate a piece of track that would reduce journey times between Burnley and Manchester, had been confirmed.

He said: “We have the Todmorden Curve, the University Technical College, and all sorts of things going on in the town.

“There is a big demand for reasonably-priced quality homes in the area. I speak to estate agents in the town regularly and they say there is a lot of interest.

“People are realising that you can work in Manchester but live in Burnley, the cost of living here is much cheaper, so you have more money for the finer things in life.”

Developer Persimmon Homes is behind the plan for the development in Colne, and they will be holding a public exhibition in the area next week.

Coun Tony Greaves said: “My immediate reaction is that this scheme is wrong for the South Valley area, wrong for Colne, and wrong for Pendle. Too big, the wrong sort of houses and in the wrong place.

“The plans that have been circulated are for 211 new houses, the majority of them detached, strung along mainly straight roads across the hillside.

“They almost double the size of the estate and appear to be mainly aimed at attracting a lot of new commuters.

“My immediate impression was of lots and lots of “little boxes on the hillside…” with little benefit for Colne or the local community. They seem to be taking a great deal and giving very little in return.

"And they fly in the face of all the proposals in recent years for development on brownfield land in the South Valley itself rather than green fields on the hillsides."

The homes would be built on the former railway sidings and green fields beyond existing housing.

A ‘drop-in’ public exhibition is being held on Thursday (April 5) at Primet Hill Community Centre, between 2pm and 8pm.