Decision details

Preston City and Fylde Borough: Application number. LCC/2016/0046
Development of new highways including Preston Western Distributor, Cottam Link Road and East West Link Road including a new motorway junction to the M55 together with temporary soi

Decision Maker: Development Control Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Decisions:

A report was presented on an application for the development of new highways including Preston Western Distributor, Cottam Link Road and East West Link Road including a new motorway junction to the M55 together with temporary soil storage and contractor areas, cycle track alongside all highways, water attenuation ponds, diversion/stopping up of public rights of way, landscaping and ecology mitigation areas, construction of two bridges, two viaducts, two underpasses and a cattle creep on land in Lea, Cottam and Bartle and to the west and north of the existing built up area of Preston.

 

The application was accompanied by an Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary prepared under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

 

The Committee visited the site on the 6 September 2017.

 

The report included the views of Preston City Council, Ingol And Tanterton Neighbourhood Council, Woodplumpton Parish Council, LCC Highways Development Control, Highways England, Natural England, the County Ecology Service, The Woodland Trust, Historic England, Lancashire Archaeology Advisory Services, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, National Grid Company P. L. C, the Canal And River Trust and Network Rail.

 

The report also included details of fifty letters of representation received and a number of representations received from developers or agents for landowners of land affected by or adjacent to the proposed highways. The views of Cottam Village Action Group were also reported. 

 

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of each section of the proposed highway and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown illustrations of the proposed road layouts and viaducts together with photographs of each site and the traffic and air emission figures in respect of Tabley Lane.

 

The Officer reported orally that additional representations had been received since the publication of the agenda. Details of the representations together with officer advice was set out in the 'Update Sheet' and circulated at the meeting. (Copy attached as a supplementary agenda item and at Annex A to the Minute Book).  The Update Sheet included details of proposed amendments to the 'noise' section on pages 48 and 49 of the report together with amendments to Conditions 9 and 17.

 

In addition to the advice set out in the Update Sheet, the Officer reported orally that the diversion works in respect of the Hodder Aqueduct diversion could be undertaken by United Utilities under permitted development rights or those conferred under the Water Industry Act 1991.

 

A number of local residents addressed the Committee and reiterated the objections set out in the Committee report and in the Update Sheet in relation to the impact of the proposals on Tabley Lane. The residents also circulated photographs showing a number of HGVs on Tabley Lane and Maxy Lane.

 

The officers responded to issues raised in the presentations and referred Members to the advice contained in the committee report and the Update Sheet.

 

In response to concerns raised by the Committee, the officers referred Members to the proposed traffic management conditions set out on pages 62-64 of the report and in particular Condition 22 which provides for the implementation of a weight restriction along Tabley Lane south of the East West Link Road to control the use of the road by HGVs. The officer also referred to Condition 23 which outlines a commitment to monitor traffic movements on Tabley Lane with the option of introducing traffic calming measures should traffic trigger levels be exceeded.

 

The officers also responded to questions raised with regard to the suitability of Tabley Lane as the main route for the East West Link Road. The Officers reiterated the advice set out on page 31 of the report which acknowledges that Tabley Lane does have some constraints in terms of road width, alignment and the position of houses however, it was pointed out that other alternative roads have their own traffic and amenity issues. It was also pointed out that Tabley Lane is a B class road and an important north – south link and this would continue to be the case even if the EWLR were to be developed. Officers advised that as the expected increase in traffic levels on Tabley Lane would still be well within the theoretical capacity of the road, there would be no reason to modify the design of the EWLR to prevent access onto Tabley Lane.

 

Following further debate with regard to the suitability of Tabley Lane as the main route for the East West Link Road, it was Moved and Seconded that:

 

"Tabley Lane should have no connection with the East West Link Road"

 

On being put to the vote the Motion was Lost.

 

It was further Moved and Seconded that:

 

"The proposed signalised junction at the intersection of Tabley Lane and the East West Link Road should be excluded from any planning permission and reviewed at a later date".

 

On being put to the vote the Motion was Lost.

 

Following further debate the substantive Motion was put to the vote and it was:

 

Resolved: That, after first taking into consideration the environmental information, as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 and subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement relating to the provision and retention of off site bat mitigation measures, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee and the inclusion of the amended conditions as set out in the Update Sheet.

 

Date of decision: 04/10/2017

Decided at meeting: 04/10/2017 - Development Control Committee

Accompanying Documents: