AN application to build two houses in Fairclough Street in Burtonwood has been refused.

It fell foul of the council's housing targets - so many are being built in big applications, small ones like this are usually recommended for refusal.

Mr James wanted to build two terraced houses in the overgrown garden of number 90 to be offered at a discounted' price.

But because the council has a target of building 380 homes a year until 2016, and is way ahead of that target, the officers recommended refusal.

Applications need to show community benefits to go ahead - and only large scale developments with affordable housing, and contributions towards things like health care, are able to do this.

The scheme was unanimously refused at last Wednesday's town hall planning meeting.