Holiday chalets by side of lake on the outskirts of Whitechapel can go ahead

City councillors have passed plans for five holiday chalets beside a former fishing lake within an '˜area of outstanding natural beauty'.
Forest of BowlandForest of Bowland
Forest of Bowland

The proposals for the chalets on land off Bleasdale Road on the outskirts of Whitechapel went before Preston’s planning committee after being ‘called in’ by Coun Lona Smith “due to the impact the proposed development would have on the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in terms of visual amenity, noise, highway and pedestrian safety and the impact upon wildlife.”

Planning officers had recommended the chalets be approved, subject to conditions, and at their meeting last week, councillors agreed with them and said the development can go-ahead despite Coun Smith’s plea.

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Goosnargh Parish Council had objected to the application on a number of grounds including the impact of traffic on the locality’s narrow roads and the site access being on a blind bend.

The council had also received six letters of objection which included points such as the chalets being an inappropriate development within the area ofoutsdatning natural beauty/

There were also fears the chalets could be used as permanent homes.

It is proposed to build the chalets on the lake’s northern bank, to be accessed from Crumbleholm Fold via an access track which would be widened and resurfaced.

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Seven holiday units were approved for land nearby in October 2015.

Recommending the plan be approved, officers said: “The proposal would not have any unacceptable detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the AONB and would help to support the rural economy and improve access to the countryside. The impacts on residential amenity, highways and ecology are also considered acceptable.

“Mitigation measures have been provided to limit the impact of the proposal on the locality.

“The proposal complies with the relevant provisions of the development plan and there are no other material considerations which outweigh this finding.”

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