Enterprise Zone industrial units at Land Bounded by Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool

The site and surroundings

The 67,166-square-metre site formed part of the Enterprise Zone, with industrial uses, homes, community facilities, open land and a watercourse nearby.

“The application site measures 67,166 sqm sited on four parcels of land bisected by Amy Johnson Way and the new spine road, Vickers Way. To the north are industrial uses at Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Blackpool Rifle and Pistol Club, the Mechanics football ground and dwellings on Oakwood Close. To the south is the Common Edge Community Village and South Shore Cricket Club.”

“In terms of constraints, the site of the outline approval is wholly within Flood Zone 1 and falls within the Blackpool Airport and Warton Aerodrome safeguarding zones. The application site is allocated in the Local Plan as Employment Land and as the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (Policy DM8).”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Outline permission was granted in 2023, followed by approval for the spine road and a separate reserved matters approval for plot 7a.

“In January 2023, outline planning permission (with all matters reserved ref: 22/0265) was granted for the: • Reconfiguration of Common Edge Road to create a new point of access into the Enterprise Zone and provision of new spine road from this access point to Amy Johnson Way; • Erection of up to 35,000sqm of business, industrial and storage and warehousing uses (Classes E(g), B2 and B8); • Erection of up to 275sqm retail floorspace (Class E(a)); • Erection of up to…”

“The reserved matters application for plot 7a (ref: 25/0876) was approved for 1,742sqm of storage and distribution (Use Class B8) floorspace. The application before Committee is a reserved matters application for all plots other than plot 7a, and the following Use Classes and floorspace have been applied for along with associated service yards, access from spine road, parking, landscaping and boundary treatments:”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal sustainable, with suitable design, scale, access and layout, economic benefits, employment opportunities and enhanced biodiversity and environmental quality.

“Economically the scheme would deliver economic benefits in providing opportunities for businesses to operate and expand in Blackpool, which will help diversify and grow the local economy and provide employment opportunities during both construction and operational phases. The proposal would be economically sustainable and this weighs in favour of the scheme in the planning balance.”

“Environmentally, biodiversity and environmental quality would be adequately safeguarded and enhanced. The design, scale, access and layout of the sites are appropriate, and the sites would be suitably enhanced by green infrastructure. These matters weigh in favour of the proposal.”

Officer report

Public response

No representations were received after the press notice, site notice and neighbour notifications.

“No representations have been received following publicity.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A planning officer outlined the proposal, and no supporters, objectors or elected members had registered to speak.

The committee’s decision

The committee supported the application and deferred approval to the Head of Development Management, subject to agreement of bin-store and fencing details and amended conditions.

“In a further reference to the Update Note, [name withheld] advised that a number of amendments to conditions were proposed which would allow details to be agreed individually for each unit and that the scheme as a whole would generate significant economic benefit through business growth and job creation.”

“Resolved: To support the application and defer approval to the Head of Development Management, subject to the details of the bin store for the retail/café unit and the fencing position to be agreed; and the conditions listed in the report and update note, amended as appropriate.”

Minutes