Nature reserve visitor centre at Land at Hodbarrow Nature Reserve, Millom

The site and its setting

The 57.60-hectare nature reserve lies beside the Duddon Estuary, includes former mining features and sits within several protected ecological sites.

“The Application Site includes areas used to support mining operations, including pits (such as Old Annie Lowther Pit, New Annie Lowther Pit, Arnold Pit and Bewley Pit), quarry and clay extraction sites (such as Whitriggs Close Clay Pits), lime kilns (Hodbarrow Lime Kilns), a lighthouse (Hodbarrow Beacon) and brickworks (Red Hill Brickworks).”

“The Application Site is located within the Duddon Estuary Ramsar and Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Areas (SPA’s), and the Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SACs).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval under delegated authority, subject to Natural England and ecological consultant acceptance of revised information and appropriate conditions.

“The level of development proposed is considered to be appropriate to the site. This is given moderate weight. The proposal is located to the south of the existing settlement, however the proposal includes measures to support sustainable travel, including EV charging, cycle parking, and pedestrian routes. Cumbria Highways have offered no objections to the application subject to conditions. This is given great weight.”

“That Members authorise the Service Manager for Development and Implementation with delegated authority to approve the application subject to Natural England’s & the Council’s Ecology Consultant’s acceptance of the revised ecological information submitted, the planning conditions outlined at the end/Appendix 1 of the report, and to add to and/or make amendments to the conditions as considered appropriate.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A letter was read for an objector, three objectors spoke, and the agent spoke in support of the application.

What members discussed

Members discussed the byway restrictions, mining risk, natterjack toads and the choice between air-source and ground-source heating.

“A Member asked if the mining risk survey had been carried out. In response the Planning Officer clarified to Members that the mining risk assessment had been carried out and the relevant bodies had been consulted and a condition had been imposed.”

“A Member asked the Officer if they were satisfied that there would be no detrimental effect on the natterjack toads. In response the Planning Officer clarified to Members that the report carried out showed there were none on site, however as part of the proposal five natterjack hibernacula’s would be created for them to encourage them to come back on side and this was included in the conditions.”

Minutes

The committee vote

A member moved to accept the officer recommendation, the motion was seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

“Following consideration of the application a Member moved to accept the Officer’s recommendation, as detailed in the update report, this was seconded.”

“A vote was taken and it was unanimously agreed.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee gave delegated authority to approve the application subject to ecological acceptance, conditions and any appropriate amendments to those conditions.

“RESOLVED – That the Service Manager for Development and Implementation be given delegated authority to approve the application subject to Natural England’s & the Council’s Ecology Consultant’s acceptance of the revised ecological information submitted, the planning conditions set out below, and to add to and/or make any amendments to the conditions as considered appropriate.”

Minutes