Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from County Councillor Potter.

Temporary changes

County Councillor Swarbrick replaced CC Pope.

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 Maxwell-Scott declared a pecuniary interest in Item 8 as he was Chair of Lancashire County Developments Ltd Board. County Councillor Rigby would take the Chairmanship for this agenda item.

County Councillor Mirfin declared a pecuniary and non-pecuniary interest in Item 8 as he was Vice Chair and a Director of Lancashire County Developments Ltd Board.

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 19 January 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday 19 January 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Update Sheet will be considered as part of each related agenda report.

The Update Sheet was circulated prior to the meeting (copy attached).

A report was presented on an application for the erection of a new composting building and continuation of use of the existing composting site, subject to a condition restricting the export of compost to five Heavy Goods Vehicles per day, at Iron House Farm, Lancaster Road, Out-Rawcliffe.

The application site was used for the production of compost primarily produced from green waste arising from local authority collections and household waste centres. Waste wood and other compostable materials were also imported, either as an additive to the green waste or used to produce chipped/shredded wood products. The proposed building would be located on the western side of the site furthest from Lancaster Road on an existing hardstanding area. Currently the area was used to shred and compost green wastes.

The report included the views of Wyre Borough Council, Out Rawcliffe Parish Council (objecting to the application), the Environment Agency, LCC Highways Development Control, the County Landscaping Service, County Ecology Service and Natural England. No observations had been received from the Lead Local Flood Authority. County Councillor John Shedwick had raised concerns in relation to the HGVs already exceeding the permitted numbers and the negative impact that any extra vehicles would have on the highways and local area and that the proposed new egress point would disrupt residential amenity. In addition, 1 objection from a neighbouring resident had been received, the details of which had been provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan of the site, air photographs of the site, site access and location of the proposed building, elevations diagrams, and photographs of the existing and proposed views from Hornby Lane and Lancaster Road, site access off Lancaster Road and the site of the proposed building.

The officer drew attention to further information received from County Councillor John Shedwick and from Out Rawcliffe Parish Council objecting to the application, the details of which had been circulated to Committee prior to the meeting (copies attached). Committee's attention was also drawn to the Update Sheet, outlining the applicant's wish to revert to the previous planning permission restrictions on HGVs and not to increase the volumes of waste imported to the site. The applicant had also stated that the building would allow for food waste to be accepted on the site. The applicant's comments in relation to HGVs had been addressed in the report and the comments on food waste addressed in the Update Sheet.

Graham Salisbury, the agent on behalf of the application addressed the Committee. Mr Salisbury reported that the site had operated a service for the past 15 years. The site employed 17 full time equivalent staff and offered a valuable service to both Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council. Mr Salisbury informed Committee that the new building was required in order to meet new legislation surrounding waste management and handling, and to control the spread of blown waste, plastic and paper.

It was reported that the applicant's weighbridge records where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report was presented on an application for a retrospective change of use of haulage yard to waste recycling (skips) on land at 410 Southport Road, Scarisbrick.

A previous report had been presented to Development Control Committee on 19 January 2022 which had included the views of the Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council Highways Development Control, and details of an objection from Scarisbrick Parish Council. No observations had been received from West Lancashire Borough Council at the time of writing the report. 29 representations had been received comprising of 23 in support of the application and six objections. Committee had agreed that a full response from the Borough Council's planning team should be sought before the application was determined and it had been:

Resolved: That the application be deferred, pending further investigation by West Lancashire Borough Council.

This report now included details of the objection from West Lancashire Borough Council which related to insufficient information being submitted to fully assess the impact of noise upon surrounding residents. Details of the response provided by the applicant's noise consultant were provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan of the application site, aerial view of the site and nearest residential properties, diagram of the site layout and photographs of the site entrance, sorting and storage area, containers for the waste and views of the site from surrounding areas.

It was reported that Condition 2 proposed to reduce the hours of working from those proposed by the applicant, stating that these should be 08:30 to 17:30 hours Monday to Friday only (excluding public holidays). 

Committee were reminded that an Environmental Permit was required for the site which would require certain standards of operation and noise pollution control. Without an appropriate Environmental Permit, the site operator would not be permitted to continue.

Resolved: That planning permission be granted, subject to conditions controlling working programme, site operations, highway matters and drainage, as set out in the Committee report.

A report was presented on an application for a variation of condition 2 of planning permission LCC/2019/0054, to allow the golf course re-contouring operations and restoration operations to continue until 23 March 2023 at The Laurels at Charnock, Preston Road, Charnock Richard.

The applicant had sought to extend the operations until 23 March 2023 (i.e. to allow an additional one year period for the completion of the development) stating that adverse weather conditions, restrictions on the type of materials and scarcity of materials had caused delays on site.

The report included the views of Chorley Council, Charnock Richard Parish Council, LCC Ecology Service, LCC Highways Development Control, Lead Local Flood Authority, the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency. No observations had been received from the County Landscape Service. Three representations objecting to the application had been received, the details of which were provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a map and aerial photograph of the application site, site plan showing areas of landraising, and photographs of the wheel wash and views of the site from Preston Road, the site entrance, the existing golf course and the landscape bund currently under construction.

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling time limits, working programme, hours of working, landscaping, noise, highway, ecology, drainage, restoration and aftercare, as set out in the Committee report.

The Deputy Chair took the Chair for this item, due to the Chair declaring a pecuniary interest as a Director of Lancashire County Developments Ltd.

A report was presented on an application for a change of use of Building no. 2 at White Cross Business Park, South Road, Lancaster, from a place of worship to office accommodation requiring building works comprising replacement windows to the building and link corridor, external metal stairs, installation of external air source heat pumps and demolition of the existing toilet block, to be replaced by a two storey extension. The site was within Lancaster City Conservation Area.

Lancashire County Developments Ltd and Lancashire County Council were currently in the process of reviewing the vacant buildings within White Cross Business Park, to create spaces for growing small businesses. Building no.2 was originally recorded as Storey Social Club, which had been converted to a place of worship which, more recently, lies vacant. Due to its proximity to Fraser House, which was the most recent building on the Business Park to be refurbished, Building no. 2 had been identified for further development and conversion to office space.

The report included the views of Lancaster City Council (objecting to the application), LCC Highways Development Control and LCC Ecology Service. No comments had been received from Historic England or the Canal and River Trust. One representation had been received from an occupier of an adjacent office unit, the details of which were provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan and air photograph of the application site, proposed elevations and photographs of the views of the chapel building, existing toilet block to be demolished, and the existing link corridor showing the windows and panels to be replaced.

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which provided a further response from Lancaster City Council concerned about the proposed use of UPVC for the windows and stating the central doors should be of a more solid appearance rather than fully glazed.

It was reported that the applicant had discounted the use of wooden windows on cost/maintenance grounds but had stated they would be willing to either install secondary glazing on the existing windows or install new aluminium frames. The applicant had proposed that the new building be rendered white and that the windows have stone sills and headers.

County Councillor Yates considered that the new two storey extension should be made of stone and that the windows should be wooden, in keeping with the surrounding area.

County Councillor Kay agreed with these comments stating that the cost and maintenance of wooden windows should be part of the upkeeping of a Heritage Grade II building.

The officer confirmed to Committee that although the barracks building at White Cross was a Grade II listed building, the Chapel building (Building no.2) was a non-designated heritage asset. The new two storey extension would incorporate a slate roof, stone headers and sills to the windows of the toilet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

It was reported that, since the last meeting of the Development Control Committee on 19 January 2022, six planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Head of 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.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of the Development Control Committee will be held on Wednesday, 27 April 2022 at 10.30am in Committee Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at 10.30am in Committee Room B, County Hall, Preston.