In June 2014 Emery Planning secured planning permission for 14 semi-detached and 4 detached houses on land at Finnington Industrial Estate, Finnington Lane, Feniscowles, Chorley.
The site is located in the Green Belt but comprises land that has been previously developed. Various industrial buildings had become dilapidated. Most recently some had been used for car repairs, vehicle storage and dismantling. The Leeds Liverpool Canal, Finnington Brook and open fields bound the site. Immediately adjacent to the site are existing houses.
The site is currently in employment use and an extant planning permission for a mixed residential and employment use was in place. In her assessment of the application proposal, the planning officer considered that the site was not well-located for employment use in this rural area, away from local villages. The existing buildings would need to be redeveloped for future employment use.
The footprint of the proposed houses would be less than the existing buildings on site. The volume of the proposed houses would be greater than the existing, but the planning officer was of the view that this unattractive site would be improved by the removal of the existing buildings and structures including shipping containers and rubble and large areas of hardstanding and the proposal would improve living conditions for occupiers of neighbouring properties.
