OUTLINE plans to build new homes on the site of a former pub ravaged by fire could be approved tomorrow.

In 2016, 30 firefighters had to be drafted in from across Lancashire to extinguish the fire at the former Bull and Butcher pub in Manchester Road, Burnley, which saw the roof cave in and an entire floor collapse.

The deliberate fire at the pub caused extensive damage to the building including structural damage and took several days to get under control.

The pub has since been knocked down but, earlier this year, Preston-based developer San Marco Group, who had hoped to turn the pub into an Italian restaurant prior to the fire, lodged plans with Burnley Council proposing to build 20 new homes on the site.

A report is due to go before Burnley Council’s development control committee, recommending the development be approved.

The council received eight letters of objection with people claiming the development would increase traffic and hinder road safety for pedestrians, as well as result in the loss of green belt.

Fears were also raised about noise, loss of privacy and potential loss of trees.

Case officer Paula Fitzgerald said: “Concerns about the overall design, appearance and layout including landscape treatment will be treated as part of reserved matters applications.

“Appropriate conditions have been attached for landscape, ecology, parking and treatment of highways.

“This will ensure that the finer details of the development can be given further consideration.

“A Transport Statement has been submitted with the application and LCC highways have considered the application and do not have any objections to the principle of the development of the site.

“Further details of access and highways across the site will be covered as part of reserved matters.

“The element of the site which is outside the settlement boundary is considered to be brownfield land having been previously developed by the Bull and Butcher pub.

“This should not be confused with green belt to which the site is not located within or adjacent to any designated green belt land.

“The majority of the site is covered by a housing allocation which has been tested through the Local Plan examination in 2017.

“The development of the site will make a valuable contribution to the borough’s housing supply.”

Development control committee members will decide on the application in a meeting at Burnley town hall on Thursday.