Emery Planning was appointed to provide planning advice in relation to a site on the edge of Darwen, Lancashire for the erection of 1 no. dwelling in the Open Countryside. The application was presented to Planning Committee by officers as a departure from the local plan given the location of the site within the Open Countryside, although Members endorsed officer recommendation to grant planning permission. This was on the basis of the benefits associated with the scheme including the outstanding design concept put forward by Good & Tillotson Architects, biodiversity benefits, the sustainable nature of the self-build dwelling and the previously developed status of the site. Planning permission was therefore granted by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.