Agenda item

The Committee is requested to consider an application for planning permission, details of which are set out in the accompanying report.

The Committee considered planning application 17/0105 for the formation of an attenuation basin with associated outfall structures, vehicle access from Moss House Road, temporary vehicle access off Florence Street and landscaping and boundary treatments.

Ms Johnson, Planning Officer, presented the Committee with an overview of the application and the proposed site layout, location plans and an aerial view of the site.  She reminded Members that the application had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow the opportunity for a Construction Management Plan to be produced.  She advised the Committee that a Construction Management Plan had now been submitted and reported on the specific elements of the Plan that sought to address previous concerns.  She confirmed that the Head of Highways and Traffic Management was satisfied with the Construction Management Plan.

In conclusion, Ms Johnson presented her view that on balance it was considered that the benefit of the scheme in terms of improvements in the bathing water outweighed the concerns raised and therefore the application was recommended for approval.

Ms Allen, accompanied by Mr Edwards, spoke in support of the application on behalf of the applicant. She reported on the benefits to the bathing water from the proposal and advised on a number of other similarly approved schemes.  She advised the Committee that the proposal had been designed to be in keeping with the residential aspect of the area and to maintain the green landscape.

Ms Whitlock also spoke in support of the application on behalf of ‘LOVE My BEACH’.  She advised the Committee of the campaign to improve bathing waters across the Fylde Coast and the lack of certainty that the bathing water would meet future required bathing standards.  She reported on the requirement to have cleaner, safer seas in the interests of public safety.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee regarding safety, particularly in relation to the potential for children to access the site, Ms Johnson confirmed that the site would be surrounded by a 1.4 metre high fencing, similar to fencing used around reservoirs.  In response to further safety concerns relating to the site, Mr Powell, Senior Technician, Traffic Management, advised that the Head of Highways and Traffic Management would monitor the applicant’s compliance with the Construction Management Plan, which would be updated as necessary throughout the development.

Mr Edwards, on behalf of the applicant, responded to further concerns by advising the Committee of the drainage system which would prevent the presence of surface water except for extreme weather when there would be surface water present at the site for a couple of hours at most.

Resolved:  That the application be approved, subject to the conditions, and for the reasons set out in the appendix to the minutes.

Background papers:  Applications, plans and replies to consultations on the application.