Baxenden residents can have their say over the future redevelopment of the former Hill Top nursing home.
A draft planning guide aims to protect the site from unsuitable development applications. It proposes three options – a high quality housing scheme, up to 20 retirement dwellings, or a ‘linked villa’ care home of up to 45 units.
The land is owned by the county council, which withdrew proposals for 64 care apartments back in February. Residents and councillors had objected that the four-storey development would be overbearing.
The options presented in the new planning guidance, which cost the council £20,000 to draw up, are a mix of two and three-storey buildings.
They set out planning constraints, including height and massing of buildings, proximity of the Haworth Art Gallery, the Christ Church conservation area, car parking, protection of trees and access to and linkages through the site.
Baxenden councillor Kath Pratt welcomed the development brief, but has called for the buildings to be limited to two storeys.
She said: "It’s a beautiful gateway into Hyndburn and to put a great big carbuncle down there would be disastrous. Three storeys is probably a bit high because it’s in conservation land and of its proximity to the Haworth Art Gallery. Once something is up it’s there forever."
She added: "As long as it’s suitable for the area I don’t mind which option is chosen."
MP Graham Jones is campaigning for rental accommodation for the elderly.
"I want to see accommodation for the elderly built on this site which respects the conservation area, provides a quality build and environment and affords an opportunity to rent that is available for the many and not the few," he said.
The proposals can be viewed at the Haworth Art Gallery, Scaitcliffe House, Accrington Library or Accrington Town Hall.
There is also a link on the council website www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk.
A public consultation period opened last week and runs until August 13.
For further information call 01254 380972.
