Decision – That the minutes of the hybrid Planning Committee meeting held on 24 November 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary 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.

Councillor Boardman declared an interest on item 3d).

The Director (Customer and Digital) has six items for planning applications to be determined (enclosed).

Plans to be considered will be displayed at the meeting or may be viewed in advance by following the links to the current planning applications on our website. 

https://planning.chorley.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application   

The Director of Customer and Digital submitted six items for consideration. In considering the applications, Members of the Planning Committee took into account the agenda reports, the addendum and the verbal representations and submissions provided by officers and individuals.

Planning permission refused.

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Alistair Morwood that the application be refused. The motion was seconded by Councillor Alan Whittaker.

It was proposed by Councillor Martin Boardman and seconded by Councillor Aaron Beaver that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

A vote was taken on the substantive motion first, and the motion was passed (7:4:2) that planning permission be refused for the following reason;

Due to the number of dwellings proposed and the regimented layout, with a cramped arrangement of parking and hardstanding areas which dominate the scheme, the proposal would result in overdevelopment of the site, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the area. The design of the proposed development is, therefore, contrary the National Planning Policy Framework, the Core Strategy and Policy BNE1 of the Chorley Local Plan 2012 - 2021.

Listed building consent granted, subject to conditions.

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Aaron Beaver, seconded by Councillor Danny Gee, and a decision was subsequently taken (unanimously) that Listed Building Consent be granted, subject to conditions in the report.

Planning permission refused.

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Alan Whittaker, seconded by Councillor Aaron Beaver, and a decision was subsequently taken (unanimously) that planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which is harmful by definition and would also cause harm to the openness of the Green Belt. Substantial weight is attached to these harms and it is not considered that very special circumstances exist to justify the proposal. The proposed development, therefore, is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework at Chapter 13.

2.    The presence, or otherwise, of bats has not been established as the surveys are out of date and, therefore, the impacts of the proposed development on this European protected species have not been fully assessed. The proposal is, therefore, contrary to policies BNE9 and BNE11 of the Chorley Local Plan 2012 – 2026.

Planning permission granted, subject to conditions.

Councillor Martin Boardman declared an interest on this item. He spoke as the applicant’s representative on the item and did not partake in any further discussion following his time allocation and did not partake in the vote.

Registered speaker: Martin Boardman (Applicant’s representative)

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Alistair Morwood and seconded by Councillor Gordon France, that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions in the addendum.

This proposal was put to the vote and recorded as follows:

FOR: Cllr Molyneaux, Cllr C France, Cllr Beaver, Cllr Caunce, Cllr G France, Cllr Gee, Cllr Gray, Cllr Hargreaves, Cllr Hilton, Cllr Morwood, Cllr Whitham

AGAINST: Cllr Whittaker[AJ1] 

The proposal to grant planning permission subject to conditions in the addendum was therefore approved.

Councillor Martin Boardman then returned to the meeting in his capacity as member of the Committee for consideration of the remaining items.

Decision deferred to allow officers to investigate the air quality data at the site.

Registered speakers: Julie Wild (Objector) and Paul Kallee-Grover (Agent)

After careful consideration and following a change to the officer recommendation from Mrs Hayes (Service Lead – Planning) to suggest instead deferral pending the obtaining of air quality data, it was proposed by Councillor Martin Boardman, seconded by Councillor Aaron Beaver, and a decision was subsequently taken (unanimously) that the decision be deferred to allow officers to investigate the air quality data at the site due to the close proximity to the KFC drive-thru.

This item has been withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital (enclosed).

Members noted the report of the Director of Customer and Digital which set out planning appeals and decisions received between 26 October and 30 November 2020.

Four planning appeals were dismissed and one enforcement appeal had been lodged.

The Chair wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.