Agenda item

A report was presented on an application for a single storey extension to create an enclosed antechamber for vehicles accessing the waste transfer building, the erection of 3 metre high acoustic fencing and raising the existing 2.5 metre high acoustic fencing to 3 metres high at Unit 8, Burn Hall Industrial Estate, Venture Road, Thornton.

The report included the views of the Environment Agency, the County Council's Specialist Advisor (Ecology) and details of one letter of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown an illustration of the proposed building and its elevations and photographs of the site including the existing fencing.

The Development Management Officer reported orally that a further letter had been received from agents acting on behalf of Cala Gran Caravan Park. The agent continued to be concerned that there was no evidence to demonstrate that the development would result in any improvements to noise or odour and that the full details of their objection had not been included in the Committee report. The agents suggested that if planning permission was granted, a number of additional conditions would be necessary, including one to control the operation of the doors to ensure that the antechamber was only used for access purposes and not for storing waste.

The Committee was advised that there is no requirement for the applicant to demonstrate that the development would have any benefits. The relevant test is that the application would not have any unacceptable impacts.

In relation to the suggested conditions, the committee was advised that a condition could be imposed to require details of the operation of the doors to be submitted and also a condition that the doors to the extension must be the only means of vehicular access to the building. It was pointed out that if the antechamber was used as the access to the building there would be no room for the storage of waste and therefore the other condition suggested was not necessary. The additional conditions are set out below:

4.  No development shall commence until details for the control of the doors to the building have been submitted to and approved in writing by the County Planning Authority. The details shall provide for the implementation of a system that ensures that the doors to the building do not open simultaneously.

Thereafter the operation of the doors shall be controlled in accordance with the submitted details.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and to conform with Policy DM2 of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

5.  Upon the building extension being completed, the doors to the extension shall be the only means of vehicular access into and egress from the waste transfer building.  No other doors shall be used for the purposes of vehicular access. All other vehicular access doors shall remain closed at all times except for emergencies.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and to conform with Policy DM2 of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

Following brief debate it was:

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