Logistics park at Land To East Of Finnington Lane, Feniscowles, Withnell

What was proposed

The hybrid application sought earthworks, drainage, access and ecological works, alongside two B8 warehouses with combined floorspace of up to 120,780 square metres.

“Part A Detailed planning permission for ground remodelling and associated earthworks to form a development platform, site drainage including diversion of watercourses, ecological mitigation, new means of access to A674 via a 3-arm traffic controlled junction (including widening and realignment of the main carriageway), internal access road and related structures, utilities diversion, landscaping and associated works. This involves the following elements:”

“Main access road and related works - approximately 600m long new road running from the new access to the midpoint of the development platform to include localised engineering works and new bridge across the tributary to Finnington Brook and diversion of its tributary watercourse alongside the new road.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The approximately 40.3-hectare site is agricultural pasture in the Green Belt, bounded by the motorway, A674 and Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

“The application site is in the Green Belt to the northeast of the borough and close to the administrative border of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The site lies to the southwest of Blackburn near to the parish of Feniscowles and is within the parish of Withnell near to the villages of Hoghton, Withnell and Abbey Village. The site is located to the northeast of Junction 3 of the M65 motorway, to the east of A674 Finnington Lane.”

“The site comprises agricultural land that is in use as pasture. There are several individual and small groups of trees and hedgerows within the site although it is largely clear of such features. The topography of the site is such that the land slopes down from south to north effectively from the M65, which is cut into the hillside down to the Leeds and Liverpool canal.”

Officer report

Earlier site applications

Earlier applications concerned a field track and bridge, agricultural buildings and access, a lawful access track, and environmental statement scoping for a logistics park.

“Ref: 22/00348/FUL Decision: PERFPP Decision Date: 24 June 2022 Description: Retention of a field track and bridge crossing utilised to access land at Stanworth Farm…”

“Ref: 22/00948/SCOPE Decision: SCOPE Decision Date: 14 November 2022 Description: Scoping Opinion for the Environmental Statement, pursuant to Regulation 15 of the Town And Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, associated with a proposed M65 Junction 3 Logistics Park…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to conditions and a legal agreement, saying substantial economic and other benefits outweighed identified heritage, landscape and visual harms.

“However, the proposed development is considered to comply with the exception to inappropriate development in the Green Belt set out at paragraph 155 of the Framework. The development would clearly contribute to economic growth within Chorley and Blackburn supporting the provision of employment through job creation within the units that would be developed, which is an economic and social benefit that carries substantial weight.”

“On the basis of the above, it is considered that the proposal conflicts with the development plan as a whole but that the benefits of the development are substantial and on balance amount to material considerations that outweigh the substantial harms that have been identified.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The speakers included two objectors, a ward councillor and two agents.

The vote and decision

The committee voted 10 for and one abstention to refuse permission because the development’s significant adverse landscape and visual effects would cause considerable harm and outweigh its benefits.

“The proposed development would result in significant adverse landscape and visual effects by virtue of the scale and extent of the development, which cannot be fully mitigated and would cause considerable harm to the character of the area contrary to policy 21 of Central Lancashire Local Plan, policy BNE1 of the Chorley Local Plan…”

“Planning Committee Tuesday, 16 June 2026 2012 – 2026, and Policy EN19 of the emerging Central Lancashire Local Plan, such that it would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposed development.”

Minutes