Agenda item

To consider the enclosed reports on an application for planning permission (Application No. 09/00024/FUL) for the erection of a multi-use games area on land east of Buckshaw Primary School, Chancery Road, Astley Village.

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Director (Business) on the application for planning permission for the erection of a multi-use games area, including provision for 3m steel fencing, tarmac playing surface area and access footpaths on land 80m east of Buckshaw Primary School, Chancery Road, Astley Village, highlighting material factors that the Council would need to take into account.

Following the Council’s referral of the application back to the Development Control Committee for re-assessment after a site visit organised for the benefit of all Councillors, the Development Control Committee had reiterated its recommendation for conditional planning permission to be granted to the proposals.  The application required full Council approval as the land was in Council ownership.

In answer to queries raised at the meeting, the Executive Leader (Councillor Peter Goldsworthy) confirmed that the Council would seek assurances from the Astley Village Parish Council that they were wholly satisfied with the appropriateness of the Chancery Road site only after an examination of other potential alternative sites before the lease of the land was completed.

It was moved by the Chair of the Development Control Committee (Councillor Harold Heaton) and seconded by the Vice Chair (Councillor Geoffrey Russell) that the application be approved.

A request was made for a recorded vote, which was as follows:

FOR THE MOTION: Councillors E Bell, J Boothman, T Brown, P Case, H Caunce, A Cullens, M Cullens, M Devaney, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson, P Goldsworthy, M Gray, H Heaton, K Iddon, K Joyce, P Malpas, G Morgan, M Muncaster, G.Russell and J Walker

AGAINST THE MOTION: Councillors K Ball, N Ball, J Berry, A Bradley, D Edgerley, C France, A Gee, C Hoyle, H Khan, R Lees, M Lowe, T McGowan, J Molyneaux, S Moulton, R Russell, E Smith, S Walsh and P Wilson

ABSTENTATION: Councillor I Smith

It was subsequently RESOLVED that planning permission be granted to application 09/00024/FUL for the erection of a multi-use games area, including the provision of 3m steel fencing, tarmac playing surface and access footpaths on land 80m east of Buckshaw Primary School, Chancery Road, Astley Village, 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 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.  The development hereby permitted shall not commence until full details of the colour, form and texture of the perimeter fencing of the MUGA (notwithstanding any details shown on the previously submitted plans 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.

3.  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 or 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 Policy No GN5 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

4.  At the commencement of ground excavations the site shall be inspected for the presence of bluebells and if found the bulbs shall be translocated to an alternative location within the open space as agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To secure the preservation of a protected plant species in accordance with Policy EP4 of the Adopted Chorley Borough Local Plan Review.

5.  Notwithstanding the submitted plans no development shall take place until a scheme of landscaping for the area of land to the north east of the perimeter fence of the Multi-Use Games Area between it and the flats at Brown’s Hey has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall indicate all existing trees 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.