Agenda and minutes

None received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

County Councillor T Aldridge declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda items 4 and 5 as a member of West Lancashire Borough Council.

County Councillor K Snape declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 as members of Chorley Borough Council.

County Councillor Green declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 as a member of the same political party as the West Lancashire Borough councillor speaking on this application. 

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 16 July 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 16 July 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

A report was presented on an application under the Environment Act 1995 for a review of working and restoration conditions to an old mining permission at Ravenhead Brickworks, Up Holland, Skelmersdale.

The report included the views of West Lancashire Borough Council, the Environment Agency, the Coal Authority, Natural England, United Utilities and seven letters of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown photographs of the site and an illustration of the proposed landscaping scheme.

It was reported orally that an amendment was proposed to condition 2b of the recommendation as follows:-

Drawing 66721.SS.007 should read Drawing 66721.SS.007 Rev A

Drawing 66721.SS.007 – delete Rev A

A local resident addressed the committee and raised concerns at the noise emanating from the site and in particular, the reversing alarms associated with the mobile plant in the stockpiling area, the hours of working and the proposed permitted noise levels set out in the conditions to the report.

Officers responded to questions raised by the Members in respect of the noise issues raised by the resident and the proposed landscaping for the restoration area to the west of the houses adjacent to the site.

Following further debate, it was agreed that condition 21 of the recommendation be amended to allow for a scheme and programme detailing the specification of any reversing alarms fitted to mobile plant used on the site to be submitted to the County Planning Authority for approval.

The revised condition is set out below:

21.   Within three months of the date of this permission, a scheme and programme detailing the specification of any reversing alarms fitted to mobile plant used on the site shall be submitted to the County Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme and programme shall contain details of the types of reversing alarms fitted to each item of plant including that plant used to transport shale between the stockpiles and the brickworks and shall contain a specification of the alarms to be fitted. The alarms shall be of a low noise type or shall adjust the alarm volume with changes in the background noise level.

The approved alarm types shall be fitted to all mobile plant used on the site within three months of the date of approval of the scheme and programme and thereafter be used at all times.

Resolved:  That having first taken into consideration the environmental information as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 submitted in connection with the application Old Mining Permission ref  9/10/26 be subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee and the inclusion of the amended conditions as set out above.

A report was presented on a retrospective application for the change of use of land and existing building from light industrial (Class B1) to a mixed use for light industrial (Class B1) and storage and distribution (Class B8) uses and the recycling of non-hazardous waste plastics together with the erection of a warehouse building for the storage and distribution of materials associated with the uses at Unit 1, Station Yard Factory, Station Road, Rufford.

The report included the views of West Lancashire Borough Council, Rufford Parish Council, the Environment Agency, Network Rail, the County Council's Developer Support (Highways), the LCC Lead Local Flood Authority and details of one letter of representation received. The views of County Councillor Dereli were also received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties and photographs of the site and access road.

The Officer reported orally that the applicant had confirmed that the external elevations of the warehouse would be coloured Olive Green (BS 12B27).

It was also reported that the County Council's Specialist Advisor (Ecology) had raised no objection to the proposals subject to the imposition of conditions to require the following:

·  Tree protection measures in accordance with best practice (BS5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction - Recommendations).

·  The replacement of trees along the site boundaries for any that have been removed to facilitate the development, or that subsequently fail as a consequence of the development.

·  The avoidance of any light spill to the surrounding area.

·  The checking of trees for nests during the bird nesting season that may be affected by the erection of the warehouse.

It was also recommended that consideration should also be given to installation of bat boxes/ bird boxes on external building elevations/ retained trees.

In response to the above, the Committee was advised that the proposed colour of the building was considered acceptable and that Condition 2 should be replaced with the following:

'The external elevations of the warehouse building shall be coloured Olive Green (BS 12B27) and thereafter maintained in the approved colour throughout its presence on the site.

In relation to the conditions requested by LCC Specialist Advisor (Ecology), the committee was informed that the applicant had submitted a tree constraints plan and survey with the application which demonstrated that the new building could be constructed without affecting the trees on the boundaries of the site. Condition 15 in the report sought to ensure that this was the case. It was considered that as no trees should be affected by the development, there should be no requirement to provide for replacement planting or for the protection of any nesting birds that use these trees. The conditions requested on landscaping and the provision of replacement bird/ bat habitats were therefore considered unnecessary.

The committee heard representations from a local resident, the Clerk to Rufford Parish Council and the West Lancashire Borough Council ward councillor who all objected to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report was presented on an application for a revised working scheme including amended levels and extension of the mineral extraction and landfill areas at Clayton Hall Landfill Site, Dawson Lane Whittle Le Woods.

The Development Management Officer advised that a site visit would provide the Committee with a clearer understanding of the development proposal, any issues raised, and the relationship of the site to the surrounding area before the application was determined.

Resolved: That the Development Control Committee visits the site before determining the application.

A report was presented on an application for approval of details reserved by condition to planning permissions 6/13/0528 and LCC/2014/0122 relating to the construction of the Broughton Bypass, Preston.

The report included the views of Broughton-in-Amounderness Parish Council, the Environment Agency, the County Council's Street Lighting Officer and Broughton Bypass Review Group. 

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which showed the landscaping details, ecological mitigation measures, water attenuation measures and car park layout.

Resolved: That the details submitted for the purposes of conditions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 20 and 24 of planning permission 6/13/0527 and condition 3 of planning permission LCC/2014/0122 be approved.

A report was presented on an application for the retention of the existing demountable classroom and new timber cladding and access ramp at Reedley County Primary School, Reedley Road, Brierfield.

The report included the views of Pendle Borough Council and Reedley Hallows Parish Council.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties and photographs of the classroom.

Resolved: That planning permission be Granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee.

It was reported that since the meeting of the Development Control Committee on the 16 July 2015, eight planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Head of Service Planning and Environment in accordance with the County Council's Scheme of Delegation.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

The Chair informed the committee that he had agreed that the following report should be considered at the meeting as item of urgent business. The special circumstances for the use of the urgent business procedure were set out under the heading to the report.

Special circumstances for use of urgent business procedure:

It was reported that the report for this application was prepared to meet the closing date for the 2^nd September Committee agenda. However, the report was not placed on the agenda due to an outstanding objection from the Environment Agency. An updated response from the EA has now been received confirming that their concerns could be addressed.

A report was presented on an application for the variation of condition 9 of planning permission 06/07/0984 to allow plastics recycling to take place within the building on a 24 hours per day basis on Mondays to Fridays and between 06.00 - 22.00 hours on Saturdays and Sundays at Gaskell House, 45 – 49 Rough Hey Road, Preston.

The report included the views of Preston City Council, the Environment Agency, Grimsargh Parish Council and details of eight letters of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown photographs of the site from Rough Hey Road, Longridge Road and 'The Hills' and from within the building.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee, the Officer advised that noise attenuation measures to the building were proposed to reduce noise to acceptable levels and that those works including the replacement of existing glazing and doors, would also improve the visual appearance of the eastern side of the building.  

Resolved: That planning permission be Granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the committee.

The next meeting of the Development Control Committee will be held on Wednesday 14 October 2015 at 10.00 a.m. in Cabinet Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 14 October 2015.