Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Committee Room 'B' - The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Samantha Gorton 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

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.

Minutes:

County Councillor Clarke declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 7 as he was a member of the Lead Local Flood Authority who were objecting to the application.

 

County Councillor Pattison declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 9 as she was a Lancaster City Councillor.

 

3.

Minutes of the last meeting held on 1 March 2023 pdf icon PDF 447 KB

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 1 March 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 1st March 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Update Sheet pdf icon PDF 218 KB

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

 

Minutes:

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

 

5.

West Lancashire Borough: application number: LCC/2022/0060 Hydrobrake chamber, return manhole and pressure relief column in association with proposed detention tank. Yew Tree Farm, Higgins Lane, Burscough pdf icon PDF 325 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was presented on an application for a Hydrobrake chamber, return manhole and pressure relief column in association with the proposed detention tank at Yew Tree Farm, Higgins Lane, Burscough.

 

The proposal was part of a wider scheme of waste water infrastructure improvements much of which was permitted development under Part 13 of the Town and County Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 2015.

 

The report included the views of Burscough Town Council, LCC Highways, Natural England and Atkins (Ecology and Arboriculture comments). No comments had been received from West Lancashire Borough Council and LCC Landscape Service. Three representations objecting to the proposal had been received and an objection on behalf of Burscough Flood Group.

 

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which included further information provided by the applicant to clarify the need for the proposed development, and a number of proposed changes to the conditions.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan and aerial view of the application site and the Yew Tree Farm Development, a site layout plan, elevations, photographs of the view from Higgins Lane towards the west boundary of the site and a panorama of the site from Higgins Lane looking northwards.

 

Councillor Brian Bailey, Burscough Town Council, addressed the Committee and referred to the concerns raised by the Town Council which had been detailed in the Committee report. These included, in particular, the chosen location within the Green Belt, the fact that the development had not been accommodated within the Yew Tree Farm site itself and concerns around ongoing surface water drainage problems in Burscough.

 

Committee were informed that United Utilities were consulted on all planning applications and that they had been involved in the Yew Tree Farm development which had been dealt with by West Lancashire Borough Council.  The additional foul flow created by the mixed-use development at Yew Tree Farm could not be accommodated within the existing sewer network and a new detention tank to retain flows and then return them to the sewer network was required. There was not sufficient land available within the Yew Tree Farm development to accommodate this and the application site had been chosen as it was the nearest connection point.

 

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

 

As requested, a copy of the minutes of this meeting would be sent to Burscough Town Council.

 

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling approved plans, ecological mitigation and highway safety, as set out in the Committee report and the Update Sheet.

 

6.

Preston City and Fylde Boroughs: application number LCC/2022/0041 Amendment to approved plans listed in Condition 2 of Planning Permission ref LCC/2016/0046 to permit a revision of the screen mounding and landscaping alongside the Preston Western Distributor Road. Land in Lea, Cottam and Bartle and to the west and north of the existing built up area of Preston pdf icon PDF 319 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was presented on an application for an amendment to approved plans listed in Condition 2 of Planning Permission ref LCC/2016/0046, to permit a revision of the screen mounding and landscaping alongside the Preston Western Distributor Road.

 

The current application sought approval for areas of more extensive mounding compared to the approved layout, in order to accommodate excess spoil materials generated during road construction operations. The areas of additional mounding did not require the removal of any additional trees or lengths of hedgerow, beyond those that were required to implement the original planning decision.

 

The report included the views of Preston City Council, Fylde Borough Council, Newton-with-Clifton Parish Council, the Canal and River Trust, the County Landscape Service, LCC Ecology Service, Network Rail and the Lead Local Flood Authority. No comments had been received from Woodplumpton Parish Council, Lea Parish Council or the Environment Agency. One representation had been received on behalf of a number of residents of Darkinson Lane.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan, aerial views of the northern part of the route showing the view during construction, the Preston Western Distributor Central section during construction and the Preston Western Distributor Southern section. Also shown were diagrams of the northern section at Preston Western Distributor/M55 junction, the central section/Lea Lane, the central section near the railway crossing, section near Lea Village and the southern end at the A583 roundabout.

 

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

 

Committee noted that most of the mounding had been completed so retrospective approval was required for these, but that there were some small sections that had not yet been put in place.

 

Resolved: That subject first to the signing of a Section 106 agreement relating to the retention of bat mitigation measures, planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling approved documents, landscaping and ecology, construction controls, traffic management and monitoring and surface water controls, as set out in the Committee report.

 

7.

Wyre Borough: application number LCC/2022/0043 The infilling of a lake and change of use of land to allow the siting of an additional 28 static holiday caravan pitches and associated infrastructure at Highfield Fishery. Highfield Farm Fisheries, Ghants Lane, Hambleton pdf icon PDF 314 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was presented on an application for the infilling of a lake and change of use of land to allow the siting of an additional 28 static holiday caravan pitches and associated infrastructure at Highfield Fishery, Highfield Farm Fisheries, Ghants Lane, Hambleton.

 

Three fishing lakes had been created on this site in 2002/03, under a planning permission granted by the county council for the extraction and export of clay. The central lake had been infilled using imported materials, and developed as a holiday accommodation site, under a planning permission granted in 2020 (ref LCC/2020/0039). This planning permission had now been implemented and the caravan/chalet units were now in use. The current application related to the southern most lake at Highfield Fisheries.

 

The report included the views of Wyre Borough Council, Hambleton Parish Council, Ecology Service, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, LCC Highways Development Control and the Lead Local Flood Authority. Three representations objecting to the proposal had been received.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan and aerial views of the application site and proposed layout, a photograph of the view of the site entrance from Ghants Lane, diagrams of the proposed mitigation land and the view of the mitigation land from Sower Carr Lane.

 

It was reported that, as there would be some losses to ecology, the applicant proposed to create a new off-site pond and use it purely for the purposes of ecological compensation. Committee were informed that Condition 18 covered this and stated that the pond should not be stocked with fish or used for angling purposes at any time.

 

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

 

It was confirmed that the current footpath which ran along the boundary of the current site and the proposed site would be retained and that various conditions needed to be satisfied before the development could be commenced. It was noted that Condition 8 dealt with the Construction Management Plan including the routing of vehicles and operating hours.

 

County Councillor Rigby raised concerned that the applicant had previously disregarded conditions as the lake had been used for carp fishing, rather than being used for wildlife. Committee were informed that this breach would be raised with the landowner and addressed.

 

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling time limits, working programme, construction details, design and details of compensation area, as set out in the Committee report.

 

8.

Rossendale Borough: application number LCC/2022/0046 The construction of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) facility with a 30mm pile artificial grass surface with pre-treated timber edging to the MUGA perimeter and surrounded by 2.4m high 868 duex fencing coloured green RAL6005. Balladen Primary School, Linden Lea, Rawtenstall pdf icon PDF 290 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was presented on an application for the construction of a Multi-Use Games Area facility at Balladen Primary School. The facility would have a 30mm pile artificial grass surface with pre-treated timber edging to the perimeter and would be surrounded by 2.4m high 868 duex fencing coloured green RAL6005.

 

The report included the views of United Utilities and Sport England. No comments had been received from Rossendale Borough Council or LCC Highways. One representation objecting to the proposal had been received.

 

It was reported that although the applicant had responded to Sport England's concerns, Sport England had maintained their objection to the proposal so the application was required to be referred to the Secretary of State, should the Committee resolve to approve the application.

 

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which included details from the applicant on the proposed drainage scheme and an amendment to Condition 6 to reflect this.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan, aerial view of the site, images of the fencing detail, diagram of the site layout, existing grass pitch and construction details and a photograph of the proposed location for the multi-use games area.

 

Committee were informed that the school had confirmed that team games would still be able to be played on the remaining playing field and that the Football Association had confirmed this was of adequate size. In addition, the multi-use games area would be available all year round, unlike the school field.

 

Resolved: That, subject to the Secretary of State confirming that the application will not be called in for his own determination, that planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling hours of use, floodlighting and materials, as set out in the Committee report and the Update Sheet.

 

9.

Lancaster City: application number LCC/2022/0061 The permanent retention of the existing Salt Ayre materials recycling and transfer facility at Salt Ayre Materials Recycling and Transfer Facility, Ovangle Road, Salt Ayre, Lancaster pdf icon PDF 371 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was presented on an application for the permanent retention of the existing  Salt Ayre Materials Recycling and Transfer Facility at the closed Salt Ayre Landfill Site, Ovangle Road, Lancaster.

 

The report included the views of Lancaster City Council, Heaton with Oxcliffe Parish Council, the Environment Agency and LCC Highways. No representations had been received.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan and aerial view of the application site and the former landfill site, site layout and photographs of the view of the building from the site entrance (adjacent household waste recycling centre) and the site entrance from Ovangle Road.

 

County Councillor Pope raised concern around the permanency of the planning permission. However, it was noted that the only reason to continue with temporary permission would be if permanent permission would prejudice the restoration of the landfill site. As there would be no impact on this, the benefits of retaining the facility were considered to outweigh any limited benefit from the removal of the building, in terms of the landscaping impact, as the Household Waste Recycling Centre would remain on site.

 

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

 

County Councillor Berry referred to the concerns from Lancaster City Council around air quality and pollutants and that insufficient information had been submitted to enable consideration of these issues. Committee were informed that the applicant had provided further information to address these matters which the City Council had not responded to. The site was not within the air quality management area itself but within a zone around this area and Lancaster City Council would look to monitor whether traffic from the development was likely to add a contributory impact onto the designated air quality management area. As the facility was already operating, there would be no further traffic movement to contribute to the detriment of the air quality management area. Approximately 30% of the vehicle movements were internal from the Household Waste Recycling Centre so if the facility were to close, the waste would have to be transferred elsewhere which would likely result in an increase in vehicle movements.

 

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling all conditions relating to site operations, hours of working, safeguarding of watercourses and drainage, and the control of noise, as set out in the Committee report.

 

10.

Planning decisions taken by the Head of Planning and Environment in accordance with the County Council's Scheme of Delegation pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Minutes:

It was reported that, since the meeting of the Development Control Committee on 1st March 2023, four 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.

 

11.

Urgent Business

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.

Minutes:

There were no items of Urgent Business.

12.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Development Control Committee will be held on Wednesday, 7 June 2023 at 10.30am in Committee Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Minutes:

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 7th June 2023 at 10.30am in Committee Room B – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.