Top Lancashire wedding venue refused Certificate of Lawfulness for 15 eco lodges
One of Lancashire’s leading wedding venues has suffered a serious legal set-back over plans for 15 eco pods in the grounds.
The Post reported in December that bosses at Eaves Hall, near Clitheroe, were looking to complete work on the development of lodges, but needed a Certificate of Lawfulness from Ribble Valley Borough Council - because of a complicated planning history.
What’s happened?
Planning permission for the lodges was initially given in 2020, as additional accomodation for guests on a vacant, rectangular-shaped land parcel which lies approximately 150 metres to the north-west of Eaves Hall.
Soon after, venue bosses said a “significant start” was made to install an access road and bases for seven of the lodges, as well as the supply and placement of five lodges. However, the lodges were different from those granted approval - the company supplying the original designs had gone into administration - and the works were done without discharging the pre-commencement conditions.
Updated application
In 2023, a new application was granted, to vary the original permission, as well as agreement on an alternative lodge type. Within the conditions was a requirement that works had to recommence before November 25, 2023.
Late last year, Eaves Hall submitted documentation including aerial photographs, showing what they said was the removal of non-compliant lodges and highway works, completed before the deadline. But planning officers diagreed that this related to the 2023 application.
“No additional evidence”
In a report, they said that the act of removing unauthorised camping lodges “does not fall within the scope” of any works approved under the 2023 application, and that photographs of the site’s access track “does not appear to show any discernible change to the materiality of the section of access track in question”. Furthermore, even if operational development had occured, they said these works also do not relate to the approved site layout consented under the 2023 application.
The report added: “No additional evidence has been provided to satisfy the Local Planning Authority that operational development pertaining to planning application 3/2023/0263 commenced before the permission was deemed to have lapsed.”
Eaves Hall has a right to appeal if unsatisfied with the outcome.
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