A DEVELOPER is on a collision course with councillors who turned down plans to transform the former Airtours site in Helmshore into a housing estate.

Bellway Homes Ltd was shocked when councillors went against planning officers' advice at Rossendale Council's development control meeting.

The Manchester-based firm wants to transform the Holmefield House site, in Holcombe Road, Helmshore, and make way for 86 apartments, detached, semi-detached and terrace houses, as well as six office units.

The site is defined as an employment area in the Rossendale District Local Plan -- a site with good links to the motorway network from Grane Road.

Airtours moved around 1,000 of its workers from the Helmshore headquarters to Rochdale more than three years ago.

Councillors want to see housing developments moving towards the east of Rossendale, such as Bacup and Stacksteads, and turned down the scheme after complaints from nearby residents.

Clive Balchin, a partner at Moving Works in Rawtenstall, spoke on behalf of Bellway and argued: "Both the county and local planning officers now acknowledge that there is a housing supply problem in Rossendale.

"This is reflected in the emerging interim housing policy."

He said, if approved, Bellway had agreed to contribute £30,000 towards a local bus service, £80,000 towards improvements at Helmshore Park, and £70,000 towards improving public open spaces.

Mr Balchin added: "Rossendale is thriving at present and is a most desirable place to live, and there is no doubt that there is a shortage of properties in the area."

Speaking after the meeting he said the applicant would be seeking to appeal and commented that councillors had made a 'disastrous' decision.

Richard Hemer, the council's head of planning, said: "The council must look to brownfield sites that have previously been developed in order to accommodate developments such as this one."

Judith Driver, Greensclough ward councillor, said: "We should be looking at the housing market in Bacup and Stacksteads because there has been more than enough development in Helmshore.

"We have not given this site long enough to be empty.

"We need to be looking at affordable housing to get first-time buyers on the property ladder.

"We don't need big homes that are going to be sold for anything between £160,000 and £200,000," she added.

Resident Joan Lambourne, of Helmshore, said: "The result of Rossendale Council's lack of action over plans such as these has led to 60 per cent of new buildings being crammed into Helmshore."

Other worries raised by residents included the density, massing and height of the buildings, noise and disruption, access problems and a lack of amenities.