A WALL built behind 12 new luxury houses, described as a "blot" on the landscape, can stay up as long as the developer plants trees to cover it up.

The controversial structure in Chorley Road, which was built without planning permission, will be allowed to remain if the developer meets the council's strict conditions.

Oak Tree Developments has just a month to purchase a two-metre strip of land where trees and a hedgerow must be planted by the end of autumn.

An enforcement notice to knock down the wall could be issued if the developer does not stick to the council's timeline.

The retrospective application for the Westhoughton development was passed by councillors at a planning committee meeting yesterday.

Ward councillor Christine Wild explained that the houses were built higher than originally agreed. This led to the need for a retaining wall to be put in place to prevent the houses or gardens sliding in to a farmer's fields, according to Cllr Wild.

She said: “This wall is inharmonious with the fields and character of the area, standing out like a miniature version of the great wall of China.”

Cllr David Wilkinson described the wall as a "mess" which has affected residents physically and mentally.

The Westhoughton councillor described the wall as a "blot" on the landscape.

He also raised the point that landscaping conditions are only valid for a period of five years.

Fellow Westhoughton councillor Anna-Marie Watters shared her frustrations with developers submitting applications after construction takes place.

She said: “I just don’t think it’s in keeping with the area. I don’t think we should give retrospective planning permission to this. It’s caused too many problems already. I'd support the residents and not give it approval.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Zoë Kirk-Robinson said the developer has called a lot of stress for residents and cannot be trusted.

However, Cllr Nick Peel reminded members that the committee must make decisions based on planning law.

He said: "We cannot sit here in a quasi-judicial meeting and talk in coded language about not believing in what the applicant is saying and act as if we’re punishing somebody. That’s not our role. When we look at retrospective applications, we look at that in terms of planning grounds only."

Planning chair Hanif Darvesh told councillors the reasons for refusal "do not stick".

The committee passed the plans with 12 councillors in favour, but five councillors voted to refuse permission, including three from Westhoughton.

The developer did not attend the meeting.