Agenda and minutes

The Chair on behalf of the Committee expressed thanks to Ex-Councillor Chris Snow who was a former Member of the Development Control Committee, but had not been re-elected on 3 May 2007. The Chair thanked him for his valuable contribution to the Committee and wished him well for the future.

The Chair advised the Committee that Neil Higson (Principal Planning Officer) would be leaving the Authority shortly and was attending his last meeting of the Development Control Committee.

The Chair and the Committee thanked Mr Higson for his work and support to the Committee and extended best wishes for the future.

Apologies for absence were received by Councillor Eric Bell and Councillor Adrian Lowe who could not attend as he was on Mayoral duty

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 24 April 2007 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 24 April 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal or prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct. 

No declarations of interest were received.

Table (enclosed)

The Director of Development and Regeneration submitted reports on a number of planning applications to be determined by the Committee.

RESOLVED - That the planning applications, as now submitted, be determined in accordance with the Committee’s decisions as recorded below.

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

(The Committee received representations from an objector and a supporter of the application)

Application No:                  06/01341/FULMAJ

Proposal:                   Proposed redevelopment of Rectory Farm creating 6 No. four bedroom dwellings, conversion of existing barn to create 3 No. three bedroom apartments with associated garage space and visitor parking. Also, erection or rear extension to Croston Trinity Methodist Church to create Sunday School/community facilities with associated parking.

Location:                    Rectory Farm, Town Road, Croston, Leyland

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Ken Ball, seconded by Councillor Ralph Snape, and subsequently RESOLVED (13:0) to defer the decision to allow the Members of the Committee to visit the site of the application.

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

(The Committee received representations from an objector of the application)

Application No:                  07/00383/COU

Proposal:                   Change of use of residential dwelling house (C3) to Residential Rehabilitation Centre (C2)

Location:                    Withnell House Rest Home, Bury Lane, Withnell, Chorley

Decision:       

It was proposed by Councillor Ken Ball, seconded by Councillor Ralph Snape, and was subsequently RESOLVED (14:0) to refuse the planning application for the following reason:

The proposed development would by the nature of the proposed use as a rehabilitation centre lead to an increase in crime and fear of crime which is a material planning consideration and this was considered to be contrary to Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and policy GN5 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

The Director of Development and Regeneration submitted a report advising Members of the responses received following consultation of the Guiding Principles Document for the development of the Botany Bay/Great Knowley Site and to seek approval of the document.

The Botany/Great Knowley site had been allocated under Policy EM!.4 of the adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review (August 2003) for B1 (Business (Offices/Light Industry) and B2 (General Industry) uses. The site is in a number of different ownerships.

The guidance note had been prepared by Officers to assist the design process that should be undertaken by those considering the development of the site. Initial consultations had been held with Lancashire County Council, the Highways Agency and British Waterways prior to the preparation of the draft guidance in Januray 2007.

Following Executive Member approval the document had been put out for wider consultation for a four-week period and all the site landowners had been consulted.

Members raised concerns that the site was still allocated for B1 use under the adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review as they felt that there was already an over demand within other areas of the borough and clarification was sought as to how widely the Guiding Principles Document had been consulted on by local residents.

It was proposed by Councillor Alan Cain, seconded by Councillor June Molyneaux, and subsequently RESOLVED (8:7) with Councillors Alan Cain, Henry Caunce, Michael Devaney, David Dickinson, Patricia Haughton, Harold Heaton, June Molyneaux and Geoff Russell voting for the proposal and Councillors Ken Ball, Michael Davies, Danny Gee, Roy Lees, Edward Smith, Shaun Smith and Ralph Snape voting against the proposal, to make a recommendation that the Executive Cabinet be not minded to receive this report until wider consultation has taken place with the local residents.

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

Application No:                  07/00248/REMMAJ

Proposal:                   Reserved Matters application for the erection of 76 dwellings with associated parking, landscaping, bin stores, roads and sewers.

Location:                    Parcel H8, Euxton Lane, Euxton, Lancashire

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, seconded by Councillor Ken Ball, and subsequently RESOLVED to approve the reserved matters application subject to the following conditions:

1. The proposed development must be begun not later than three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. Before the development hereby permitted is first commenced full details of existing and proposed ground levels and proposed building slab levels (all relative to ground levels adjoining the site) shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, notwithstanding any such detail shown on previously submitted plan(s).  The development shall only be carried out in conformity with the approved details.

Reason:  To protect the appearance of the locality, in the interests of the amenities of local residents and in accordance with Policy Nos. GN5 and HS4 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

3. The development hereby permitted shall not commence until samples of all external facing materials to the proposed building(s) (notwithstanding any details shown on previously submitted plan(s) and specification) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall only be carried out using the approved external facing materials.

Reason:  To ensure that the materials used are visually appropriate to the locality and in accordance with Policy No. GN5 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

4. No development shall take place until a scheme of landscaping has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, notwithstanding any such detail which may have previously been submitted.  The scheme shall indicate all existing trees and hedgerows on the land; detail any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development; indicate the types and numbers of trees and shrubs to be planted, their distribution on site, those areas to be seeded, paved or hard landscaped; and detail any changes of ground level or landform.

Reason: In the interests of the amenity of the area and in accordance with Policy No.GN5 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

5. All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the occupation of any buildings or the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner, and any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next plantingseason with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason:  In the interest of the appearance of the locality and in accordance with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

Application No:                  07/00085/FUL

Proposal:                   Removal of planning condition no.2 (app 9/83/00453) “The building will not be used between the hours of 1.00pm and 8.00am”

Location:                    Heapey and Wheelton Village Hall, West View, Wheelton

Decision:

Application withdrawn

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

Application No:                  07/00255/FUL

Proposal:                   Revision to Planning Permission 04/969/FUL by modification of condition 11 – no machinery or vehicles (including horseboxes and trailers) shall be stored or kept within the site overnight

Location:                    Land North of 125 Rawlinson Lane, Heath Charnock

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, seconded by Councillor June Molyneaux, and subsequently RESOLVED to grant full planning permission.

Report by the Director of Development and Regeneration and the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services (enclosed)

The Director of Development and Regeneration and the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services submitted a joint report on the proposed procedure for site inspections by the Development Control Committee.

It was proposed that the Development Control Committee should continue to decide when it wishes to undertake visits to development sites which are the subject of planning applications to be determined by the Committee and that all Members of the Committee be given the opportunity to attend.

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, seconded by Councillor Ken Ball, and subsequently RESOLVED to approve the following procedure and arrangements:

• The Committee should agree and resolve that a site inspection be undertaken in respect of any particular planning application.
• That the Democratic Officer liaise with the Development Control Manager and the Chair of the Development Control Committee on the date/time for the site inspection
• That the Democratic Officer email the details of the site inspection arrangements to all Members of the Committee and appropriate ward councillors, together with a further copy of the report on the particular planning application
• That Members continue to make their own transport arrangements for visiting the development site
• That the site inspection is classed as an informal meeting because no decisions will be made
• That no minutes will be produced
• That the Development Control Manager (or representative) be present at the site inspection to advise the Committee members of any issues in respect of the planning application
• That following the site inspection, the planning application be given further consideration at the next meeting of the Committee

Report of the Director of Development and Regeneration (enclosed)

The Committee received a report of the Director of Development and Regeneration giving notification of the lodging of two appeals against the refusal of planning permission, one appeal that had been allowed and two appeals that had been withdrawn.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Table (enclosed)

The Committee received for information, a table showing the decisions made on the following category ‘B’ development proposals which had, or were intended to be, determined by the Chief Officer under the adopted scheme of delegations, following consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

Schedule (enclosed)

The Director of Development and Regeneration presented for Members information, a schedule listing the remainder of the applications that had been determined by the Chief Officer under delegated powers between 12 April and 4 May 2007.

RESOLVED – That the schedule be noted.