Lancashire pool party holiday let gets planning permission - seven years later

A countryside holiday let near Burnley has been granted retrospective planning permission more than seven years after it began operating, despite objections from neighbours over noise, traffic and late-night disturbance.

Hunters Oak Barn on Ightenhill Park Lane has been operating as short-stay holiday accommodation since February 2019, but only recently sought planning permission to formalise the change from its previous use as a residential care home.

In a report to Burnley Council’s Development Control Committee, planning officers said the application was intended to “regularise” a use that had already been established for around seven-and-a-half years.

The property is listed on Google as “The Pool Party Barn”, offering accommodation for groups of up to 30 guests and featuring an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, private bar, karaoke room and cinema.

Online reviews of the venue include one guest describing a hen party there as “AMAZING!”, while another wrote: “We had such an amazing experience for my mum’s hen do” and praised the property’s sound system, saying there were “speakers in every room”.”

The retrospective proposal drew objections from nearby residents and Ightenhill Parish Council, who said holidaymakers had caused years of disturbance in the rural area.

Objectors reported noise from large groups, late-night activity, disruption from arrivals and departures, and outdoor gatherings.

They also raised concerns about guests knocking on the doors of neighbouring homes, blocking driveways and using foul language.

Particular concern was expressed about traffic on the narrow country lane serving the property. Residents and the parish council said coaches, taxis and service vehicles linked to the venue had created problems, with reports of coaches reversing along the road or stopping elsewhere to collect guests.

In their objections, neighbours argued that the commercial holiday-let use was out of keeping with the area’s rural character and said any tourism benefits failed to outweigh the impact on people living nearby.

Objectors also argued that granting permission after years of unauthorised use could undermine confidence in the planning system.

Planning officers acknowledged the complaints but concluded there was not enough evidence to justify refusing permission. They said the nearest home was around 55 metres away and that changes in land levels and vegetation helped shield neighbouring properties from the site.

The council also highlighted measures introduced by the operators to limit disruption, including quiet hours between 10pm and 8am, restrictions on outdoor music, noise-monitoring equipment, screening of bookings and a ban on stag parties.

Lancashire County Council’s highways authority raised no objection and said the existing access arrangements and parking provision were acceptable.

Planning officers concluded that while residents’ concerns were a material consideration, they were not sufficient to outweigh the benefits of retaining the tourism business.

Permission was subsequently granted subject to conditions, including a requirement for noise-monitoring equipment and a ban on amplified outdoor music between 10pm and 8am.