DEVELOPERS have lodged an appeal against a council decision after it rejected a controversial housing plan in Whalley.

The Co-operative Group has announced that it will appeal.

The decision came after its plans to build up to 80 new homes on land near Riddings Lane were refused by planners in January this year.

The large-scale housing development in a Ribble Valley village was thrown out after it had attracted almost 200 letters of objection.

Villagers had raised concerns about over-development, the limited school spaces, the increased traffic and inadequate drainage for the new homes.

Tom Whitehead, strategic planning manager from The Co-operative Group, said: “After carefully considering the matter, The Co-operative Group has taken legal advice.

“And it regards an appeal as the right course of action.

“The application was recommended for approval by the council’s own officers and raised no objections from the council’s specialist technical advisors.

“Under the circumstances we feel we should refer the matter to the Planning Inspectorate.”