Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Cain, Michael Davies, Patricia Haughton and Adrian Lowe

To confirm as a correct record the minutes for the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 5 February 2008 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Development Control Committee meeting held on 5 February 2008 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of interest were declared.

Table (enclosed)

Please note that copies of the location plans are included with the agenda. Plans to be considered will be displayed at the meeting or may be viewed in advance by following the links to current planning applications on our website http://www.chorley.gov.uk/planning

The Corporate Director (Business), submitted reports on four applications to be determined by the Committee.

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

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

Planning permission refused

(The Committee heard representations from an objector to the proposals)

(The Committee also heard representations from Ward representative’s Councillors Judith Boothman, Alan Cullens and Mick Muncaster)

(Councillor Ken Ball requested that his concerns be recorded that the Committee were determining the following application even though a recent amended plan had resulted in the consultation deadline being extended to 10 March 2008)

Application no:            07/01423/FULMAJ

Proposal:                   Demolition of 54, Lancaster Lane, and the erection of 18 no new dwellings including associated infrastructure on land to the rear of 46 to 60 Lancaster Lane, Clayton-Le-Woods

Location:                    Land 50m South of 54, Lancaster Lane, Clayton-Le-Woods

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, seconded by Councillor Ken Ball, and was subsequently RESOLVED (8:4) to refuse the planning application for the following reason:

The layout and density of the proposal would be inappropriate in the context of the area. It is not considered that the proposal relates well to its surroundings, which is characterised by residential properties with large garden areas. As such the proposal is considered to be contrary to Policy HS4 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review and Government advice contained in PPS1: Delivering Sustainable Development, which states that new residential schemes should respond to their local context and reinforce local distinctiveness, and PPS3: Housing, which states that new residential schemes should be well integrated with and compliment the neighbouring buildings and the local area in terms if scale, density, layout and access.

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

Planning application deferred

(The Committee received representations from ward representative Councillor Alan Cullens)

Application no:            07/01425/FULMAJ

Proposal:                   Development of 18 no. Residential dwellings. Moving of plots 1,13,14,15,16,17 and 18 and change of house type on plot 13

Location:                    605, Preston Road, Clayton-Le-Woods, Chorley PR6 7EB

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Dennis Edgerley, seconded by Councillor Eric Bell to defer the planning application pending the receipt of a satisfactory highways scheme.

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Harold Heaton, seconded by Councillor David Dickinson to grant planning permission. Upon being put to the vote the motion was lost (3:8).

Consequently the original motion was then put to the vote and it was RESOLVED (8:3) to defer the application.

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

Planning permission granted

Application no:            07/01395/REMMAJ

Proposal:                   Reserved matters application for the erection of 3 buildings for B2 use with ancillary parking areas

Location:                    Site 5, 7 and 9 Buckshaw Avenue, Buckshaw Village, Lancashire

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Ken Ball, seconded by Councillor Danny Gee and was subsequently RESOLVED (13:0) to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

1. Before the development hereby permitted is first commenced, full details of the position, height and appearance of all fences and walls to be erected to the site boundaries (notwithstanding any such detail shown on previously submitted plan(s)) shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  No building shall be occupied or land used pursuant to this permission before all walls and fences have been erected in accordance with the approved details.  Fences and walls shall thereafter be retained in accordance with the approved details at all times.

Reason:  To ensure a visually satisfactory form of development, to protect the amenities of occupiers of nearby property and in accordance with Policy Nos. GN5 and EM2 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

2. Before the development hereby permitted is first commenced full details of lighting proposals for the site shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, notwithstanding any such detail shown on previously submitted plans.  The development shall only be carried out in conformity with the approved details.

Reason:  To protect the appearance of the locality, to prevent light pollution, in the interests of public safety and crime prevention and in accordance with Policy Nos. GN5, EM2 and EP21A of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

3. Prior to the first use of the development hereby permitted, a Business Travel Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The measures in the agreed Travel Plan shall then thereafter be complied with unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To reduce the number of car borne trips and to encourage the use of public transport and to accord with Policies TR1 and TR4 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

4. Surface water must drain separate from the foul and no surface water will be permitted to discharge to the foul sewerage system.

Reason: To secure proper drainage and in accordance with Policy Nos.EP17 and EM2 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 planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23c

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

Full Council recommended to grant planning permission

Application no:            08/00036/CB3

Proposal:                   Provision of cantilever bus shelter to side elevation of Booths Supermarket facing Union Street

Location:                    Bus Stop 20m South of Library, Union Street, Chorley

Decision:

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, seconded by Councillor Eric Bell and was subsequently RESOLVED (13:0) to refer to Full Council with the recommendation to approve.

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director (Business) giving the notification of the lodging of two appeals against the refusal of planning permission, three appeals that had been dismissed, one appeal that had been allowed and two appeals that had been withdrawn.

The Committee also received notification of two appeals that had been allowed by Lancashire County Council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

The Corporate Director (Business) submitted a report informing Members about the draft Planning Statement 4: Planning for sustainable Economic Development (PPS4).

The aim of the draft PPS4 is to encourage local authorities to plan effectively and pro-actively for economic growth and to achieve a proper balance between economic opportunities and environmental and social considerations. It implied that local planning authorities needed to be adept and agile in anticipating the demands that economic change will make on land use, and in integrating local plans and policies with wider regional and national strategies.

Local authorities need to rationalise, collect and make more consistent the data, economic evidence and indicators used In drawing up plans that will anticipate and respond to the requirements of economy. This would require an enhanced understanding of the current position and changing needs of business and of economic development, and what this would mean for particular localities and places.

RESOLVED            to note the draft Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development and to support the consultation response to be sent to the Communities and Local Government Consultation Coordinator as attached in Appendix 1 of the report.

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed)

The Corporate Director (Business) submitted a report to advise Members of the responses that had been received following further consultation, including a workshop seminar on the Guiding Principles document of the Botany/Great Knowley site and to approve the attached document.

The Botany/Great Knowley site had long been earmarked for employment development and remains appropriate for this use with a need more than ever before. There is no quick and easy way to re-allocate this site and attempts by the Council and it was considered that doing this might not be within the authority’s control or in the best interests of the Borough and could undermine efforts to foster a local economic growth and employment creation.

The Guiding Principles document took account of relevant highways, ecological and landscape considerations, providing guidance and advice to developers to ensure quality design and layout for potential development of the site. Following further consultation and a workshop with interested parties on the Guiding Principles document it had been amended to provide a comprehensive checklist of requirements that would need to accompany any planning application.

Members of the Committee expressed their concerns that they did not accept that this site was appropriate for employment development and that they would seek to change the allocation in the future through the Local Development Framework (LDF) process.

The Corporate Director (Business) commented that although efforts to have the site reallocated could be done through the LPF process there was still the possibility that the Inspector may instruct it to stay allocated.

RESOLVED – That the Guiding Principles document for the development of the Botany/Great Knowley site be approved, with minor textural amendments being delegated to the Corporate Director (Business)

Table – 5 February (enclosed)

Table – 20 February (enclosed)

The Committee received for information, tables listing 7 applications for Category ‘B’ development proposals which had, or wee intended to be, determined by the Corporate Director (Business) under the adopted scheme of delegations, following consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee at meetings held on 5 and 20 February 2008.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted.

Schedule (enclosed)

The Committee received for information, a schedule listing the remainder of the planning applications that had been determined by the Corporate Director (Business) under delegated powers between 22 January and 20 February 2008.

RESOLVED – That the schedule be noted.