THE future of homes which the council describe as "overbearing" and some neighbours have labelled "monstrous" is hanging in the balance.

A planning inquiry has opened into proposals to raise the height of nine houses at Antler Homes' development behind Regent Road, Lostock.

Councillors last week voted for an apparent compromise solution which they hoped would end their long-running wrangle with Antler.

But with the developers claiming that without the increases - which average an extra 1.5 metres a house - the ceilings of the properties will be too low, the final chapter of the tussle is being played out in the inquiry which opened yesterday.

Granted

Planning permission has already been granted for the estate but planners told the inquiry that the extra height would give the houses a dominating effect out of character with the rest of the area.

Ruth MacKenzie, planning inspector, asked solicitors for Antler why there had been 150 letters of objection from Lostock residents if there was no problem.

But Richard Woodford, representing Antler, insisted the houses would be wholly in character with the area.

He said: "This is a development which has already been approved in principle. It's a high quality development and we are talking about a slight increase in height."

Mr Woodford accused the council of being "unreasonable" by refusing to allow minor changes and asked for the council to be made to pay Antler's legal costs.

He said: "Nothing has been brought forward to justify the delay and frustration to Antler."

But Richard Knight, for the council, argued it was the developers who were being unreasonable after the compromise height increase approved last week.

"The local planning authority considers the applicants have been frivolous in pursuing this appeal," he said.

Alleged over-development in Lostock has provoked regular protests in recent months, with several schemes attracting heavy post bags from opponents.

The planning inquiry concluded with a visit to the site. No date has yet been decided for the inspector's decision to be published.