Decision over housing scheme for wasteland in Chorley conservation area
The land was cleared 20 years ago.
Wasteland in a Chorley conservation area has been approved for a new lease of life.
Until around 20 years ago, the site in Water Street was a meeting house for the Church of Latter-Day Saints, at which time the building was demolished.
Over the past decade, several planning applications have been made to develop the land within the St. Laurence's Conservation Area. Permission was granted in January 2020 for eight semi-detached dwellings, and permission was refused in 2023 for a three-storey apartment block made up of 20 apartments.
A new Permission in Principle application for for a residential development for up to eight houses was submitted in September by estate agency Peter E Gilkes, which attracted 11 objections.
Nearby residents raised concerns focused on highways safety, traffic, flooding, and the impact on wildlife.
But planning officers have decided to approve the proposal, stating: “The proposal complies with the development plan and would improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area. It therefore comprises sustainable development and the Local Planning Authority worked proactively and positively to issue the decision without delay.”
An indicative layout shows the eight homes arranged as semi-detached properties, with a planning statement arguing: “The proposed development will not impact or have any adverse effect on the aesthetics or impact on the period properties within the conservation area.”