Haulage yard and workshop at Crossfield Farm, Bowscar, Penrith

What was proposed

The application proposed changing agricultural land into a haulage yard with a workshop, office, parking, vehicle wash area, fencing and landscaping.

“SUMMARY 1.1 This application seeks permission for the creation of a haulage yard with associated workshop, vehicle wash area, parking and vehicle wash area at Crossfield Farm.”

“This application seeks planning permission for the creation of a haulage yard with associated workshop, vehicle wash area, parking and car wash area at Crossfield Farm. The proposed works consist of: • The change of land use from agricultural to commercial; • Construction of security fencing; • Low vegetation losses within the site itself in the form of agricultural grassland, to be replaced with the hardscaping of roads and parking facilities; • New planting of the…”

Officer report

The site

The site was agricultural land beside an existing mixed-use farm building, about 500 metres from the motorway junction and in flood zone 1.

“The proposal site is located on a piece of agricultural land to the north of an existing large agricultural building which has a mixed agricultural and commercial use permission (16/1036) at Crossfield Farm, Bowscar.”

“The site is approximately 500 metres from Stoneybeck Roundabout, which leads directly to the M6 motorway, J41. To the immediate north of the site, planning permission was granted for ‘Outline planning permission for Use Class B1/B2/B8 development associated access, car parking landscaping and ecological enhancement measures with all matters reserved except for access’ in March 2023.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier permissions covered agricultural and mixed commercial buildings, while a previous haulage yard proposal was withdrawn in December 2024.

“Application Ref: 16/1036 Proposal: Change of use from agricultural to mixed agricultural and commercial use. Decision: APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS Decision Date: 03/02/2017”

“Application Ref: 22/0954 Proposal: Creation of haulage yard with associated workshop, vehicle wash area, parking, package treatment plant, landscaping and access Decision: WITHDRAWN Decision Date: 16/12/2024”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in support, citing business expansion, motorway access, local support, biodiversity gains and the lack of suitable industrial estate sites.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed the town council’s local plan concerns and whether lighting should face into the site and be switched off at night.

“Councillor A Waite, noted that Penrith Town Council had expressed the view that the application was contrary to the Local Plan. The Planning Officer in response stated that it was considered the application did accord with the Local Plan as set out in the planning assessment contained within the report.”

“Councillor M Hanley also highlighted that the town council had requested that if approved that lighting be LED facing into the site and that it be switched off at night as a condition. He queried why this condition had not been included in the recommendation in the report. The planning officer explained that the conditions did ask for a lighting scheme for consideration and that the town council’s comments could be considered at that stage.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The recommendation was proposed, seconded and approved unanimously.

“The recommendation was proposed, seconded and unanimously;”

“RESOLVED, that the application be granted subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes

The decision

The application was granted subject to conditions covering approved plans, landscaping, treatment plant, parking, access, biodiversity, ecology, drainage and lighting.

“(a) information about the steps taken or to be taken to minimise the adverse effect of the development on the biodiversity of the onsite habitat and any other habitat; (b) the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat; (c) the post-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat; (d) any registered offsite biodiversity gain allocated to the development and the biodiversity and the biodiversity value of that gain in relation to the development; (e) any…”

“No external lighting shall be installed within the application site as outlined in red on the approved ‘Location Plan’ other than that as outlined on the Lighting Information plan or in accordance with a detailed external lighting design scheme which has first been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

Minutes