Agenda item

To consider planning application number 22/0265 which is an outline planning application with all matters reserved for:

·         Reconfiguration of Common Edge Road to create a new point of access into the Enterprise Zone and provision of new spine road from this access point to Amy Johnson Way;

·         Erection of up to 35,000sqm of business, industrial and storage and warehousing uses (Classes E(g), B2 and B8);

·         Erection of up to 130sqm day nursery floorspace (class E(f));

·         Erection of up to 275sqm retail floorspace (class E(a));

·         Erection of up to 275sqm cafe floorspace (class E(b));

·         Highways works including reconfiguration of the junction of Common Edge Road and School Road;

·         Associated infrastructure including drainage works, electric vehicle charging hub, substation, car parking and landscaping;

·         Demolition of two single storey buildings at Collins Park and no. 2 School Road.

The Planning Committee considered application number 22/0265 for outline planning permission with all matters reserved for Phase 3 of the Enterprise Zone development as follows:

·     Reconfiguration of Common Edge Road to create a new point of access into the Enterprise Zone and provision of new spine road from this access point to Amy Johnson Way.

·     Erection of up to 35,000sqm of business, industrial and storage and warehousing uses (Classes E(g), B2 and B8).

·     Erection of up to 130sqm day nursery floorspace (class E(f)).

·     Erection of up to 275sqm retail floorspace (class E(a)).

·     Erection of up to 275sqm cafe floorspace (class E(b)).

·     Highways works including reconfiguration of the junction of Common Edge Road and School Road.

·     Associated infrastructure including drainage works, electric vehicle charging hub, substation, car parking and landscaping.

·     Demolition of two single storey buildings at Collins Park and no. 2 School Road.

Ms Susan Parker, Head of Development Management, presented the report and provided the Committee with an outline of Phases 1 and 2 and of the Masterplan for its development and its aims to create 5,000 new jobs and attract a large number of new businesses during its 25-year designation. The application site lay mainly in Blackpool with a small area of highways works proposed in Fylde which came under the jurisdiction of the Local Highway Authority, Lancashire County Council.

Ms Parker advised the Committee of the benefits of the scheme in terms of economic investment and employment and that delivery of the Enterprise Zone was a fundamental element of the Council’s strategic vision for Blackpool as set out in the Core Strategy and Emerging Local Plan Part 2. Part of the site incorporated an area of Green Belt and for that reason the application must be referred to the Secretary of State if the Committee was minded to grant planning permission and that Planning Officers were confident that the very special circumstances required to justify development on the Green Belt land would be met.

Ms Parker advised that the development would result in the loss of playing pitch provision, public open space and green infrastructure, however Phases 1 and 2 of the Enterprise Zone development had been designed to mitigate any such loss and to replace with equivalent or better provision. Work had also been undertaken with Sport England who were supportive of the scheme subject to proposed condition 4 as outlined in the committee report. In relation to the Marton Moss Conservation Area and the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Plan process, no unacceptable impacts had been identified.

In relation to highways, the Committee was advised that five phases of highway works were proposed and the relevant highways authorities would continue to work to produce an agreed access and highway improvement plan to be approved at reserved matters stage. A drainage strategy had been developed for the Enterprise Zone and had been agreed in principle and no unacceptable drainage or flood risk issues had been identified or were anticipated. In terms of ecology and concerns raised by Blackpool Airport in relation to lighting and bird strike concerns which were outlined in the Update Note, Ms Parker advised that officers had consulted the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit who considered that water features could be designed to avoid undue risk. No significant risk over and above the existing situation was anticipated. Similarly, lighting could be designed to ensure that it did not affect airport operations.

In summary, Ms Parker informed the Committee that the proposal represented the third phase of the Enterprise Zone development and that any harmful impacts of the development could be mitigated through condition. The development would deliver social and economic benefits for Blackpool and the Committee was requested to support the proposal subject to the conditions listed and refer the application to the Secretary of State for consideration.

Ms Claire Parker, Cassidy Ashton Group Limited, spoke on behalf of the applicant and informed the Committee of the aims of the Enterprise Zone over its 25-year designation in relation to employment and business. She outlined the planning history for Phases 1 and 2 and advised that the new football pitches were now in use. The application supported the Enterprise Zone’s Masterplan, was supported by emerging policy DM8 and there was sufficient justification for the removal of Green Belt status as detailed in the proposal. In relation to highways, she advised that work would be undertaken to reduce peak time traffic congestion in the area with more public transport opportunities to be provided on the site. Ms Parker asked the Committee to endorse the recommendations and refer the application to the Secretary of State.

The Committee discussed the application and was assured that work had been undertaken with the Airport and the National Airport Traffic Safety Board (NATS) to ensure the concerns with regards to lighting and bird strikes were appropriately mitigated by condition. In response to concerns regarding the impact of heavy goods vehicles on School Road, Ms Parker advised that 7.5 tonne limit signage was now in place.

Resolved:

To support the proposal and to grant outline planning permission for the site subject to the 38 conditions listed in the committee report and the amended conditions agreed in the Update Note. As the development was a departure from the Development Plan in advance of the formal adoption of Part 2 as the site included Green Belt, playing pitches and public open space, the Committee would refer the application to the Secretary of State for consideration as to whether the application would be called in for determination by the Secretary of State whether the application would be referred back to Blackpool Council to issue a decision based upon the resolution of the Planning Committee.