Agenda item

The attached report sets out recommended action on the following planning application(s):-

3A                             11/21/0627      Land to the north and south of Britannia Street, Great Harwood

Major Full: Erection of 53 no dwellings and associated infrastructure including demolition of existing buildings.

3B                             11/21/0644      Land at Maple Crescent, Rishton

Variation of condition no 2 of 11/20/0096 including changes to roof design, external appearance and alterations to fenestration, balcony and porch

3C                            11/22/0047      Land known as Clayton Triangle accessed from Mill Entrance and located between Whalley Road and Leeds Liverpool Canal, Clayton-le-Moors

Major Full:  Erection of 74 No houses and 53 No apartments with associated infrastructure (100% affordable)

Recommended                     -   That the applications be determined as set out in the report.

The Chief Planning and Transportation Officer submitted a report setting out recommended action on the following planning applications.  With the consent of the meeting, Agenda Item 3C was taken first, due to the attendance of a large number of members of the public wanting to observe this item and to avoid them having to wait unnecessarily.

Resolved                                 (1)   That the following planning application be approved, subject to:

(a)    The conditions as set out in the report;

(b)   The addition of further conditions, to be determined by the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer, in relation to the following:

(i)     The appropriate management of Japanese Knotweed at the site;

(ii)    Appropriate restrictions as to the hours of operation during construction of the development;

(c)   The amendment of Condition 6 by the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer, to clarify that a Full Travel Plan will also be required to support sustainable travel at this locationand shall be implemented, monitored and reviewed to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority;

(d)  A s.106 agreement being entered into to secure the financial contributions requested by Lancashire County Council for the required highway improvement works and the Full Travel Plan as mentioned at (1)(c) above.

(2)   That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer to make any minor changes to the wording of the conditions referred to above:

11/22/0047          Land known as Clayton Triangle accessed from Mill Entrance and located between Whalley Road and Leeds Liverpool Canal, Clayton-le-Moors

Major Full: Erection of 74 No houses and 53 No apartments with associated infrastructure (100% affordable).

1.    Councillor Miles Parkinson spoke in favour of the application, which he considered met the Council’s aspirations in the Local Plan to provide affordable/social housing, met the housing need associated with planned employment land in the Borough and achieved the stated aim of reusing brownfield sites.  He referred to the findings of a lengthy highways report by Lancashire County Council and commented that pollution levels at the Hare and Hounds junction were falling and were likely to continue to fall in the future.  He noted that one Member of the Committee had made a statement in the press against the application and he expressed concern that Members must not have predetermined the matter before taking the decision.

2.    Councillor Peter Edwards spoke against the application on the grounds of difficult access to the site, extra vehicles exiting the development onto Whalley Road which was frequently congested and the potential impact of increased traffic at the Hare and Hounds junction.

3. Resident, Geraldine Dawson, spokesperson on behalf of several residents, spoke against the application on a number of grounds.  These included the narrow vehicular access from Mill Street; congestion on Whalley Road; the high number of vehicles entering/exiting the housing development; potential unauthorised use of Saint Mary’s Court as a cut through; poor air quality and risks to pedestrian safety at the Hare and Hounds junction; the impact of additional housing development in Whalley on traffic in Clayton; lack of sufficient school places in the vicinity; environmental hazards posed by Japanese Knotweed already on the site; protection of bats in the old mill wall; and an allegation that the developer had damaged nests by felling trees contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.  Ms Dawson also stated that if the application were not refused, residents would wish to see appropriate conditions imposed to mitigate the above issues.

4. All Members of the Committee confirmed that they had not been whipped in relation to this application, which would be decided solely on its merits based upon the relevant evidence provided.

Resolved                                 (1)   That the following planning application be approved, subject to

(a)    The conditions as set out in the report;

(b)   Further consideration by the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer, in consultation with the case officer, of the issues identified in Condition 9, regarding porosity of the driveway material and any consequential amendments required to the wording of that condition.

(2)   That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer to make any minor changes to the wording of the conditionsreferred to above:

11/21/0627          Land to the north and south of Britannia Street, Great Harwood

Major Full: Erection of 53 no dwellings and associated infrastructure including demolition of existing buildings.

1.    Councillor Miles Parkinson spoke in favour of the application, which he considered met the Council’s aspirations in the Local Plan about reusing brownfield sites and provided a modern desirable housing development close to Great Harwood town centre and its amenities.

Resolved                                 (1)   That the following planning application be approved, subject to:

(a)    The conditions as set out in the report;

(b)   The addition of further conditions, to be determined by the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer, in relation to the following:

(i)    The provision of an opaque screen to the west side of the first floor balcony at the rear of the dwelling, to prevent overlooking of the adjacent property;

(ii)   The retention of the leylandii or other similar screening to reduce the visual impact of the west elevation of the property;

(iii)  The removal of any waste form the site so as to prevent harm to the trees at the rear of the property.

(2)   That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer to make any minor changes to the wording of the conditions referred to above:

11/21/0644          Land at Maple Crescent, Rishton, Blackburn

Variation of Condition No 2 of 11/20/0096 including changes to roof design, external appearance and alterations to fenestration, balcony and porch

1. Councillors Danny Cassidy, Loraine Cox, Paul Cox and Joyce Plummer took no part in the debate on this item and did not vote.