Expansion plan for popular Chorley farm shop and 5 more new applications near you

A popular Chorley farm shop could undergo an expansion, if plans are given the green light.

Bosses at Boardman Heights Farm in Bury Lane, Withnell, are seeking permission to change the use of an existing agricultural building to a farm shop.

The reuses an existing, recently constructed agricultural building as the principal retail space. The existing approved shop - known as Green Cow Farm Shop - will remain and will be used principally for food preparation and storage.

The proposed new retail floorspace is approximately 200 square metres, about the space taken up by 10 parked cars.

A statement to Chorley Borough Council (CBC) says: “The proposal does not introduce a new building into the Green Belt. It reuses a permanent and substantial building, retains the existing farm access and parking, supports an established rural business and preserves Green Belt openness.”

It adds: “The Green Cow farm shop is rooted in its farm location and is already established on the site. Expansion will provide more suitable retail accommodation and a clearer separation of customer retail space from food preparation and storage. The scheme consolidates activity within the existing farmstead and makes efficient use of a building, services, access and parking already in place.

“The development supports the resilience and diversification of the rural enterprise. It assists local employment, provides an outlet for farm and locally associated produce, shortens the relationship between producer and customer and supports spending within the rural economy. These are material economic and social benefits consistent with Core Strategy Policy 13, emerging Policy EC8 and national rural-economic policy.

“The proposal is modest in scale. It does not amount to a general retail park or freestanding supermarket. Its character, scale and function remain those of a farm shop associated with an established rural holding.”

Vehicular access will remain through the existing Boardman Heights Farm access from Bury Lane. The established parking area serving the farm shop will continue to be used.

A decision will be made in coming weeks by CBC.

Other applications verified this week in Chorley and South Ribble:

- Change of use from horse grazing field to dog walking field, erection of boundary treatment and extension of the existing hard standing at land off Howick Cross Lane, Penwortham.

- Change of use of existing stable and garage building to form one self-build dwelling, including associated alterations and extensions, formation of a new vehicular access, and associated works at Marsh Farm Stables, land adjacent to Marsh Farm, Back Lane, Longton.

- Change of use of numbers 1 to 3 Clifford Street, Chorley, across the first and second floors to 2no. one bedroom apartments (Use Class C3) and the replacement of window frames and doors.

- Installation of eight ground mounted air source heat pumps at Rivington And Blackrod High School, Rivington Lane, Rivington.

- Retention of existing portakabin used for established nursery/early years provision at Busy Bodies Nursery, St Marys Old School House, Wigan Road, Euxton.

For the latest public notices from your area, please visit: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/