Vicarage Barn, Southport Road, Scarisbrick, L40 8HQ

the erection of a building to house a cosmetic manufacturing facility

Authority: West Lancashire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Other minor developments
Inspector: Morgan R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
the effect on the setting of nearby heritage assets
whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development causing moderate harm to Green Belt openness, and the economic benefits, whilst significant, do not clearly outweigh this harm as required to establish very special circumstances.

Framework references: 11, 81, 84, 138, 147, 148, 149, 202

Plan policies cited: Policy GN1, Policy EN4, Policy EC2

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
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