Unit 14 Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Squires Gate Lane, BLACKPOOL, FY4 3RN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the use on the living conditions of local residents and on nearby commercial premises, particularly in terms of air quality and noise.
• The contribution of the use to the economic objective of sustainable development and consistency with development plan policies relating to economic development and employment and the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
• The effects on flood risk and water quality.

What decided it

The exclusion of the concrete batching plant, aggregate bays and crushing/screening operations from the requested deemed planning application removed the principal source of unacceptable harm to residential living conditions, making the remaining use acceptable for a limited period despite its conflict with employment land policies.

The economic benefit of retaining approximately 100 jobs for a limited 3-year period, combined with the minimal short-to-medium-term harm to the development plan's employment strategy, outweighed the conflict of the sui generis use with policies protecting land for Class B employment uses.