Council facing an appeal after homes rejection
JONATHAN GRIEVE
COUNCIL bosses have laid out their defence ahead of an appeal against refusal of plans for 122 new homes in Accrington.
Government planning inspectors will hear the case to determine whether to allow the development at Devine Fisheries in Broad Oak Road on appeal at a hearing on December 11.
Windmill Rise SPV had applied for permission to build 122 homes last year.
But Hyndburn Council’s planning committee refused the application.
Leader of the council, Councillor Miles Parkinson, said the population had fallen from 45,000 in its heyday to 35,000 by the 2011 census. And he said action needed to be taken to try and stimulate growth.
But planning committee members voted to turn down permission for the controversial scheme, between Baxenden and Accrington, on the grounds of access and impact on the countryside.
Chief planning and transportation officer,
Simon Prideaux, said: “The council believes that the proposed development would, by virtue of its location and access arrangements, result in an unsustainable form of development that would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the character and appearance of this area of countryside.
“The proposed development is contrary to the policies of the development plan and National Planning Policy Framework, as set out in the reason for refusal.
“The Local Planning Authority does not consider that sufficient evidence has been put forward by the appellant which results in the need to uphold this appeal on the grounds put forward in their appeal statement.”
The site was historically part of the Broad Oak Printworks and features two remaining reservoirs used for fisheries, as well as two redundant landfill sites.
Chris Betteridge, of town planners Depol on behalf of Windmill Rise SPV, said: “This application was submitted following pre-application discussions with the local planning authority.
“The pre-application meeting with officers was positive and on this basis the appellant proceeded with the preparation of a planning application for the site. Some months after the pre-application meeting, a written response was received which did not reflect the advice given at the meeting.
“However, given progress made with the preparation of the application, the decision was made to proceed with the submission.
“Hyndburn Council essentially refused permission for the development because the site was located outside of the settlement boundary with poor accessibility and it was considered that the development would have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the countryside.
“It is considered that the settlement boundaries are out-of-date and therefore the presumption in favour of sustainable development is triggered.
“Impact on the landscape is limited and does not demonstrably and significantly outweigh the benefits of the appeal proposal.”
The hearing will take place at the council chamber in Accrington town hall and is scheduled for two days.