Agenda item

A report was presented on an application for the construction of a new wastewater treatment works, access track, bridge, 3 culverts, outfall, partial demolition of existing works and landscaping at Chipping Waste Water Treatment Works, Longridge Road, Chipping, Preston.

It was reported that this proposal would replace existing aging infrastructure and would ensure that waste water was treated to modern standards therefore meeting legal requirements for water quality in the surface water courses.

The Committee were informed that although the site was located in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Flood Risk area 3 where major development would not normally be supported, it was considered that the development was in the public interest. In addition, there were no sites outside of the above areas that were reasonably available that could support the development.

The report included the views of Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Environment Agency, the County Archaelogy Service, LCC Ecology Service and LCC Highways Development Control, and details of two representations received objecting to the application. No comments were received from Chipping Parish Council and the County Landscape Service.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing maps and an aerial view of the application site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee were also shown illustrations of the applicant's proposals, cross sections through new works and photographs of the site, existing treatment works, the proposed site for new works and the access location.

The officer drew attention to the Update Sheet which contained advice in relation to the Environment Agency's response saying that they still required more time to validate the applicant's flood risk model. It was therefore requested that Committee grant delegated powers to enable the planning permission to be issued in the event that the Environment Agency confirmed that they were satisfied with the flood risk model. However, if further changes to the model were required that would affect the design of the development, the application would be brought back to Committee on 21 July 2021.

A question was asked in relation to whether the improvements in the water quality would offset the damage being done to trees and local ecology. It was confirmed that although only 3 trees and some hedgerows were being cut down, there would be some loss of ground nesting bird habitat. However, as more trees and hedgerows would be planted in a different area of the site, this would bring overall benefits in terms of ecology along with the general improvement to water quality.

Concerns were raised about the large number of HGV movements on Longridge Road going to and from the site, and a request was made for the condition of the road to be monitored, in order to identify required improvements and maintenance.

Following debate, it was therefore proposed to add an additional condition to the proposed planning permission to cover this issue. The Committee delegated authority to officers to draft a condition relating to this matter.

Resolved: That subject to no objection from the Environment Agency, planning permission be granted, subject to conditions controlling time limits, working programme, highway matters, site preparation and construction works, landscaping and management, as detailed in the Committee report, and an additional condition relating to highway maintenance as detailed above.