The Ribble Valley Council's Planning and Development committee met on 18 September 2025, and addressed planning applications, financial monitoring, and performance reports. Two planning applications for 3 Church Street, Clitheroe were withdrawn from the agenda, while a proposal for 19 affordable homes off Pendle Street East, Sabden was refused. The committee also authorised a payment to Chipping Parish Council for playground improvements.

Chipping Children's Playground

The committee authorised a payment of £2,359.88 to Chipping Parish Council, to be used for improvements to the playground in Chipping. The funds, which come from Section 106 contributions¹, will go towards addressing safety concerns, particularly the upkeep of the wooden fence surrounding the playground. The payment is conditional on the Chipping Parish Council providing a receipt to the council after the work is completed, and the work being completed within 28 days.

Land off Pendle Street East, Sabden

The committee refused an application for the erection of 19 affordable dwellings with associated car parking, landscaping and access from Pendle Street East, including demolition of existing domestic garages.

Reasons for refusal:

• The development was considered to be of poor quality and out of character with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. The committee felt that the plans failed to respond positively to the inherent character of the area.
• The committee considered that the plans failed to conserve and enhance the landscape and character of the area, and did not respect the special qualities of the area due to its size, design and use of materials.
• The application failed to demonstrate that it would satisfy the local housing requirements of the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment in terms of housing mix and tenure to meet the identified local need for Sabden.
• The committee felt that the application failed to demonstrate that it could accommodate a safe and suitable access, as well as effective provision of pedestrian and cycle links.
• The application failed to demonstrate that an appropriate sustainable drainage strategy could be achieved on the site.
• The application failed to demonstrate that the submitted Flood Risk Assessment could be satisfactorily achieved on the site.
• The application failed to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that it would not result in harm to established wildlife habits.
• The application failed to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that it can achieve the statutory requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain².

Sabden Parish Council had objected to the application, raising concerns including:

• The number of houses proposed, relative to the identified need.
• Access to the site, and highway safety.
• Land drainage and flood risk.
• The impact on the environment and landscape.
• Light pollution.
• Strain on infrastructure.

3 Church Street, Clitheroe

Two planning applications relating to 3 Church Street were withdrawn from the agenda.

• 3/2025/0231 - Change of use from hot food takeaway to two ground floor commercial units and a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
• 3/2025/0441 - Listed building consent to demolish and rebuild an existing single storey flat roof element, amend the existing garage element, and internal alterations.

Revenue Monitoring 2025/26

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report on the revenue monitoring for 2025/26. The report indicated an underspend of £59,790 to June 2025, which became an underspend of £57,497 after allowing for transfers to/from earmarked reserves.

Revenue Outturn 2024/25

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report on the revenue outturn for the financial year 2024/25. There was an overall underspend of £313,498 on the net cost of services, but after transfers to and from earmarked reserves, there was an overspend of £79,593.

Planning Application Statistics

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating the committee on key information relating to the determination of planning applications. The report noted that the Local Planning Authority met the government performance targets for determining planning applications falling within the 'Major', 'Minor' and 'Other' categories. The appeals target was not met, but overall performance on appeals did not present a cause for concern.

Appeals

The committee noted the contents of the Appeals Update for Planning and Development Committee 18 September 2025 and were provided with updates on matters where possible. The report listed the following:

• 3/2024/0462 - Incy Bobbin Mill, 10 Longridge Road, Hurst Green BB7 9QP - Awaiting Decision
• Enforcement appeal ground g - Salvage House Abbot Works Rear of King Street Whalley BB7 9SP - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/0667 - Salvage House Abbot Works Rear of King Street Whalley BB7 9SP - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/0635 - The Village Hall Franklin Hill Brockhall Village Langho BB6 8HY - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/0525 - Isaacs Farm Barn Parsonage Lane Chipping PR3 2GJ - Awaiting Decision
• Enforcement appeal grounds f and g - Land North of Preston Road Ribchester (snail farm/Boudicea Park) - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/1022 - Highcroft, Painter Wood, Billington BB7 9JD - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2025/0053 - 4, 3 Dewhurst Row, Longsight Road, Langho BB6 8AD - Appeal Allowed
• 3/2025/0093 - 1 2 3 Skirden Lodge Wigglesworth Road Slaidburn BD23 4SX - Appeal Allowed
• 3/2024/0851 and Enforcement appeal ground d and g (linked appeals) - Land adj to 4a Wiswell Lane Whalley BB7 9AF - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/0268 - Tan Yard Farm Ribchester Road Hothersall PR3 3YA - Appeal Dismissed
• Enforcement Appeal ground a, b,c,f,g - Lynwood, Pendleton Road, Wiswell BB7 9BZ - Awaiting Decision
• Enforcement Appeal ground f, g - Bowland Wild Boar Park, Wardsley Road, Chipping PR3 2HB - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2025/0190 - 10 Barker Lane Mellor BB2 7ED - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/1016 - 1 to 7 Picture House George Street Whalley BB7 9SG - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2025/0107 - Boadicea Park (Land N of Preston Road, Ribchester) - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2022/1158 - Land south of Accrington Road, Whalley - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2024/0146 - 12 Central Avenue Clitheroe - Appeal Dismissed
• Enforcement appeal ground b, c, f, g - Land off Lower Hud Lee Farm Longridge Rd Hurst Green - Awaiting Decision
• 3/2025/0344 - 6 Nab View, Whalley BB7 9YG - Awaiting start date from PINS

Corporate Plan Year-End Performance

The committee were informed about the 2024/25 year-end Corporate Plan performance. Analysis showed that of the 14 key performance indicators (KPIs) reported to this committee:

• 7% (n.1 KPI) has a target and is RAG³ rated Red as service performance is below target and being monitored
• 7% (n.1 KPI) has a target and is RAG rated Amber as service performance is slightly below target.
• 43% (n.6 KPIs) have a target and have been RAG rated Green service performance has been met or exceeded target.
• 43% (n.6 KPIs) are data only KPIs, a target has not been set therefore the KPI does not have a RAG rating.