16-05-2025
Perrmission for 46 containers on 'grass and scrubland' thrown out
Plans for 46 containers to be placed on land have been thrown out by planning chiefs.
The proposal was for them to be installed on "vacant grass and scrubland" to the east of the junction of Stoneclough Road and Bolton Road in Kearsley.
The plans, which were submitted on the behalf of applicant John Bowling, also would have seen a single storey outbuilding and "associated works" built on the site.
In his report, planning officer John Dupre recommended for the application to be refused.
In regards to impact on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area, he said: "The proposed development will change the character of the site from what is currently an area of undeveloped urban greenspace into one of ad hoc light industrial estate.
"While it is acknowledged that there are other industrial units nearby, these are permanent structures which are more different in terms of form and appearance.
"It is not considered that the development will respect or acknowledge the character and identity of the locality in term of design and siting, nor will it conserve or enhance the distinctive character of the existing physical and natural environment.
Plans (Image: Bolton Council) "The development will not be visually stimulating, nor will it raise the human spirit."
He added that it would have an "undue impact" on the surrounding area.
Mr Dupre added: "No details of have been submitted to show how the existing urban green space will be protected and enhanced in balance with other considerations."
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Regarding the impact on the highway, he said that "insufficient information" had been given, with no transport report having been filed.
Referring to the impact on biodiversity and ecology, Mr Dupre added that no details had been given to "show how existing urban green space will be protected and enhanced".
The land is off Stoneclough Road (Image: Google Maps) No risk assessment for contaminated land was submitted, though no objection has been received from the council's Pollution Control team in relation to that aspect.
Mr Dupre added: "The application site appears to include an abandoned mine entry.
"No assessment of risk from this feature has been submitted with the application; however, as the ground works required for their siting is minimal, storage containers are among the types of development that are considered exempt from the need to undertake a Coal Mining Risk Assessment."
Concluding, he said: "For the reasons outlined above, it is not considered that the proposal accords with Bolton's Development Plan policies on design, siting and appearance and that insufficient information has been provided to assess the impact of the development against policies relating to ecology, urban green space and highways and transport.
"It is therefore considered that that planning permission should be refused."
In the council's final decision, it refused the application.
The notice stated: "The proposed development would, by virtue of its design, siting and appearance, be detrimental to the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area contrary to Policy OA6 of Bolton's Core Strategy, Policy JP-P1 of Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Document General Design Principles.
"Insufficient information has been provided by the applicant with regard to the impacts of the development in terms of highway safety and transport, ecology and biodiversity net gain and urban green space, to enable the proposal to be properly judged against the policies JP-G6, JP-G8 and JP-C8 of the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan."
