PLANS to transform a residential school for pupils with physical and learning disabilities have been deferred to allow councillors to visit the site.

The governors of Birtenshaw Hall School, Bromley Cross, want to demolish a washroom and garage and build a two-storey extension to create enough room for another two classrooms.

The application at the Darwen Road school also includes plans to build 11 bedrooms with bathrooms, a new garage for three buses, and alterations to the car park for another five car spaces.

Nearby residents have complained that the alterations would create too much noise, trees would be lost and land close to a farm house would be over-developed.

However, planning officers have recommended that the application is approved.