Petting farm and recreational centre proposed for former nursery site Whitestake

Plans for the development, as well as a caravan site and caravan storage, has been submitted to South Ribble Borough by Paul Kenworthy, who owns Turbary House Nursery off Chainhouse Lane.

Currently, the site to the side and rear of Duxbury's Home and Garden Centre is used for storing caravans, fairground rides, and for greenhousing.

Now, after lengthy discussions with the council's planning team, Mr Kenworthy is looking to completely redevelop the site.

In the planning application, it states the recreational uses would be on the eastern part of the application site, which is currently vacant.

There would be a 130-space caravan storage area moved to a more central consolidated location, with a campsite for 27 touring caravan pitches proposed to the north-west part of the site.

Additionally, an ancillary waste disposal, W.C., showers and a laundry building will be provided to the south of the proposed pitches. A small play area is also proposed to serve visitors to the campsite.

A planning statement says: "The remaining parcels of the land will provide a petting zoo in the most southern parcel of field, and then recreation uses in the other remaining fields. The proposed activities will likely comprise or a mixture of archery, bazooka ball, laser tag, zorb games, air soft, archery, laser clay shooting, mini tanks and mini jeeps."

The main existing building on site will be changed to provide a reception area and convenience shop to serve the various uses of the site, along with maintaining an element of the already lawful use.

While concerns have already been raised officially and on social media about the noise impact of proposed activities, the planning statement notes: "A Noise Impact Assessment has been undertaken by JPM Acoustics to assess the noise impacts associated with the proposed development on nearby noise sensitive receptors.

"The report identified the proposed petting zoo, caravan storage and caravan site are unlikely to generate significant noise level. The recreational leisure areas were also deemed to be below the prevailing noise climate of the area.

"The report sets suitable noise level limits to ensure any noise levels associated with the shop and lease plots are of a low noise impact. The survey therefore concluded the noise impacts of the proposed development are acceptable."

Provision of 100 car parking spaces is included in the proposal, with access the existing access point directly off Chainhouse Lane.