The Planning Committee convened to discuss several planning applications, a tree preservation order, and an appeals report. Permission was granted for the conversion of buildings at Brandwood Fold Farm into residential dwellings, and for the erection of retail and leisure units on the site of the former gas works on Bengal Street. A decision on an application relating to a property on Moor Road was refused, and a tree preservation order was approved for land in Croston.

Planning Appeals

The committee noted the Appeals Report, which detailed the decisions received between 8 July 2025 and 1 September 2025. Two appeals were allowed:

• Land north of Lydiate Farm Cottage, Lydiate Lane, Ulnes Walton An appeal by Mr Elston against the decision to refuse an application for permission in principle for up to five dwellings was allowed on 29 July 2025. The inspector found the site to meet the definition of grey belt¹.
• 14 Southport Road, Chorley, PR7 6ES An appeal by Mr Lee Wrigley against the decision to refuse an application for permission in principle for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of 5no dwellings was allowed on 30 July 2025, as the Inspector found the site to meet the definition of grey belt.

Chorley BC Tree Preservation Order 2025 02 (Croston) 2025

The committee approved the formal confirmation of the Chorley BC Tree Preservation Order 2025 02 (Croston) 2025 without modification. This order gives permanent legal protection to a group of trees, including ash, sycamore, birch, blackthorn and apple trees, on land to the north of Manor House Barn, Carr Lane, Croston. The council's tree officer considered the trees to be of high amenity value to the local area, being prominently situated and clearly visible to the public.

25/00260/FUL - Sams 3, 294 Moor Road, Chorley, PR7 2NG

The committee refused planning permission for a change of use from a public house with living accommodation, to a 6-bed/8-person house in multiple occupation (HMO) at ground floor and a 6-bed/6-person HMO at first floor at Sams 3, 294 Moor Road, Chorley, PR7 2NG.

The reasons given for the refusal were:

• The proposal would result in 292 Moor Road being sandwiched between two houses of multiple occupation, leading to over-intensification of such uses and unacceptable impacts in respect of noise and general disturbance.
• The proposal fails to provide the necessary level of off-street car parking, exacerbating existing parking issues, especially during school term time for the nearby school.
• The overly intensive use of the building means that an inadequate amount of amenity space can be provided.
• The applicant has failed to suitably demonstrate that the currently lawful use of the building as a public house is no longer financially viable.

25/00235/FUL Brandwood Fold Farm, Chorley Road, Withnell

Planning permission was granted for the conversion of a building to create two residential dwellings, including a single-storey extension to the eastern elevation, and the erection of two detached dwellings at Brandwood Fold Farm, Chorley Road, Withnell, subject to conditions. The development also includes alterations to the existing access track and a new access point.

Forty-three representations were received citing the following grounds of objection to the proposed development:

• Impacts on the Green Belt²
• The proposed access along a public footpath would be unsuitable
• No justification as to why a new access is required
• Pedestrian and highway safety would be prejudiced
• Impacts on the Withnell Fold Conservation Area
• Visual impacts of the proposed access and air pollution
• Impacts on wildlife
• Dual applications have caused confusion
• Application is contrary to the NPPF including that applications should protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment, should protect and enhance public rights of way and access and give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements
• The access is a wildlife corridor not a road
• The access is not in regular use to Brandwood Fold Farm already and has two locked gates along the route
• The access junction with Withnell Fold is already congested
• The track is not suitable for construction vehicles
• No access for emergency services
• Arboricultural impact assessment does not assess the trees affected along the access track

25/00236/FUL Brandwood Fold Farm, Chorley Road, Withnell

Planning permission was granted for the conversion of a building to create two residential dwellings including a single-storey extension to the eastern elevation, and the erection of one detached dwelling at Brandwood Fold Farm, Chorley Road, Withnell, subject to conditions. The development also includes alterations to the existing access track and a new access point.

Forty-four representations were received citing the following grounds of objection to the proposed development:

• Impacts on the Green Belt
• The proposed access along a public footpath would be unsuitable
• No justification as to why a new access is required
• Pedestrian and highway safety would be prejudiced
• Impacts on the Withnell Fold Conservation Area
• Visual impacts of the proposed access and air pollution
• Impacts on wildlife
• Dual applications have caused confusion
• Application is contrary to the NPPF including that applications should protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment, should protect and enhance public rights of way and access and give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements
• The access is a wildlife corridor not a road
• The access is not in regular use to Brandwood Fold Farm already and has two locked gates along the route
• The access junction with Withnell Fold is already congested
• The track is not suitable for construction vehicles
• No access for emergency services
• Arboricultural impact assessment does not assess the trees affected along the access track

24/01107/FULMAJ - Former Gas Works, Bengal Street, Chorley

The committee approved an application for the demolition of the office building, filling of the former gas wells and erection of two buildings to be used as a retail warehouse unit and gym, with associated vehicular and pedestrian access, parking and cycle and bin storage facilities at the Former Gas Works, Bengal Street, Chorley, subject to conditions. The development is to be delivered in two phases.

No representations had been received.