DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATION COMMITTEE 21 July 2004 A Report by the Head of Environment

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Application No. 2/04/9012 District

Applicant United Utilities Parish and Great Sankey Warrington Date of Receipt 11 June 2004

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PROPOSAL Erection of a control building and a blower building; Wastewater Treatment Works, Allerby, ______

1.0 RECOMMENDATION

1.1 That planning permission is GRANTED for the reasons set out in Appendix 1 subject to the following conditions, providing that no adverse comments that would warrant reconsidering this application are received by 12 July 2004:

1. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme. Any variations to the approved scheme shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority prior to being carried out.

Reason: To ensure the development is carried out to an approved appropriate standard.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 Planning permission was granted in August 2003 for an extension to the existing WwTW site to contain a new wastewater plant with control and blower buildings in order to improve treated water quality to meet more stringent discharge consents.

2.2 This application proposes to increase the size of the control building from 6.4m x 3.1m x 3.4 high to 9.5 x 3.5 x 3.8m high in order to accommodate additional equipment, and the blower building from 3.4m x 2.7m x 3.3m high to 6.0x x 2.7m x 3.7m high. They would have natural slate roofs, rough cast/wet render walls and grey steel powder coated doors and frames as previously approved.

2.3 Access to the site would be via a stone track to meet with the existing stone track that leads to the junction with the public highway, also as previously approved.

2.4 This application is part retrospective as the buildings are currently under construction.

3.0 CONSULTATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS

3.1 Allerdale Borough Council - No objection.

3.2 Parish Council - Adjoining Parish - No objection.

3.3 Oughterside and Allerby Parish Council and the Environment Agency have been notified of the proposal but had not replied at the time this report was written.

3.4 The Highways Authority and the Coal Authority have no objections.

3.5 Local Member, Mr RW Allison and the adjoining member Mr A Clark have been notified of this application.

3.6 No letters of representation have been received at the time this report was drafted.

4.0 PLANNING ASSESSMENT

4.1 This development is required to meet river quality objectives by improvements to the wastewater treatment regime. The need for improvement is recognised and the provision of such facilities is supported in principle by Policy 60 of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

4.2 Views of the site from the nearest properties at Crosby Villa are limited by the steep fall of the land from the A596 and by existing trees and hedges on the eastern side of the site. The increased size of the buildings over those originally approved would not result in any significant increase in visual impact.

4.3 The scale, siting and design of these wastewater treatment buildings are considered acceptable and approval is recommended. The proposed changes to the size of the buildings would not conflict with the agreed landscape proposals for the site.

Human Rights Act 1998

4.4 The proposal will have a limited impact on the visual amenity of the area. Any impacts on the rights of local property owners to a private and family life and peaceful enjoyment of their possessions (Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1) are minimal and proportionate to the wider social and economic interests of the community.

Shaun Gorman Head of Environment

Contact

Emma Green, Kendal, tel. 01539 773422

Background Papers

Planning Application File Reference No. 2/04/9012

Electoral Division Identification

Mr RW Allison, Solway Coast.

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APPENDIX 1 DC&R COMMITTEE - 21 July 2004 FILE REF. NO. 2/04/9012

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE) ORDER 1995 (AS AMENDED)

SUMMARY OF REASONS FOR GRANT OF PLANNING PERMISSION

1. This application has been determined in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Acts, in the context of national and regional planning policy guidance and advice and the relevant development plan policies.

2. The key development plan policies taken into account by the County Council before granting permission were as follows:

Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Plan 1996-2006 (adopted 2000)

Policy 60 Planning permission will be granted for wastewater treatment facilities. Proposals which are likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or communities will only be permitted where they represent the best practicable environmental option.

3. In summary, the reasons for granting permission are that the County Council is of the opinion that the proposed development is in accordance with the development plan, there are no material considerations that indicate the decision should be made otherwise and with the planning conditions included in the notice of planning consent, any harm would reasonably by mitigated. Furthermore, any potential harm to interests of acknowledged importance is likely to be negligible and would be outweighed by the benefits of the development.