PLANNERS will decide next week whether to approve plans by a Pendle nursery school to expand its services.

Lancashire County Council received an application from Whitefield Nursery, Howard Street, Nelson, to extend its premises to provide a training area and creche which would be used by Sure Start Pendle, as well as a larger nursery.

The plans for a single storey extension look likely to be approved at the county council's development control meeting on Wednesday subject to a number of conditions relating to the type of materials used for the building, controlled hours of construction and accessibility for disabled users.

Sure Start Pendle, based in Charles Street, plans to use the building to provide a facility for families with youngsters up to four years old.

Clive Grimshaw, assistant director (planning) for the county council, said: "The development would be used by Sure Start Pendle and is part of a Government initiative to address child poverty and social exclusion.

"Whitefield Nursery is located in an area of Lancashire where there is a high prevalence of such problems. It is therefore considered that there is a need for this type of development in this area.

"The extension would be constructed of materials to match the host building. The development would be acceptable in visual terms and a condition could be imposed to ensure this."

Pendle Council has objected to the development because of the potential impact on nearby residents and lack of parking.

But Mr Grimshaw said he did not believe it would affect residents any more than the current school and nursery and that the level of parking provision was adequate.