Businesses in South Ribble village will not be flattened to make way for housing

Plans for a housing development in a South Ribble village have been blocked after councillors were told that the estate posed a risk to jobs.
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The proposals would have seen the demolition of a commercial facility on Station Road in Lower Hoole. Create Homes had applied to build eight properties on the land, which is officially designated as greenbelt.

But South Ribble Borough Council’s planning committee heard claims that the move would have ruined the small businesses occupying the site.

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Andrew Ashworth said his joinery manufacturing firm - which has been based in the unit for 12 years - would have struggled to find anywhere to relocate.

The commercial development on Station Road will not be replaced by houses (image: Google Streetview)The commercial development on Station Road will not be replaced by houses (image: Google Streetview)
The commercial development on Station Road will not be replaced by houses (image: Google Streetview)

“Even if there was a shortage of housing stock, I can’t contemplate how you’d consider losing businesses and jobs just for new houses - it seems ludicrous to me.

“We are dealing with people’s livelihoods here - and all the associated jobs that go along with them.

“[If you] accept the application, you will cause the closure of seven businesses,” said Mr. Ashworth, who claimed a total of 16 people were employed on the overall site.

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But committee member Will Adams pointed out that employment was not “material planning consideration”.

“Nobody wants to see any loss of jobs, but...we can’t take that into account,” said Cllr Adams, warning that the council would be in a “precarious position” if it refused the application on that basis.

However, the greenbelt status of the plot proved more fertile land for the committee to consider.

Development in greenbelt is usually heavily restricted - unless the land has been previously been built upon. In that case, redevelopment can be permitted - provided it does not have a greater impact on the openness of the area than what went before it.

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Chris Betteridge from De Pol Associates - speaking on behalf of the applicant - said discussions had taken place with the authority to design the best scheme.

“This represents an improvement in the appearance of the existing site.

“The proposal represents a reduction in the overall volume of buildings and therefore an overall benefit to the openness of the greenbelt,” added Mr, Betteridge, who claimed that only three business are now operating on the site, with several of the units used for storage.

The existing commercial facility is made up of a two-storey and single-storey building, along with several metal containers.

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But committee members were not convinced that the eight proposed properties would benefit the landscape.

“Housing development is needed in the western parishes - the snag is I don’t think this is the right site for it,” said Cllr John Hesketh.

Local resident Lindsey Pritchard condemned the proposals as a “carbuncle” which would be “completely inappropriate for this rural development”.

The committee agreed and rejected the application - against the advice of the council's planning officers, who said their recommendation for approval had been “finely balanced”.