Bickerstaffe Service Station, Rainford Road, Bickerstaffe, L39 0HF

an extension to the existing sales building and associated works

Authority: West Lancashire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: utilities-energy · Minor retail and services
Inspector: Lancaster K
Postcode: L39 0HF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to relevant development plan policies and the provisions of the Framework
If the proposal would be inappropriate development, 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 fails to demonstrate a demonstrable unmet need for the retail expansion component, and the limited to moderate weight afforded to the various benefits does not clearly outweigh the substantial weight attributed to harm to Green Belt openness and purposes.

Framework references: 104, 110, 115, 143, 148, 154, 155, 156, 157

Plan policies cited: Policy GN1

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

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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