Councillors Reject Farm Site Development, Citing “Industrial” Nature and Downgraded Design

Councillors have turned down a development proposal for a farm site, with one councillor asserting that the quality of the envisioned project had declined from “an Eiffel Tower to a Blackpool Tower.” Ribble Valley councillors expressed concerns that the proposal for Higher College Farm, located on Lower Road in Longridge, Lancashire, appeared excessively “industrial” for its rural environment and might eventually transform into a retail complex detrimental to the town centre. David Holmes, representing Ribble Valley Properties Ltd, had sought permission to construct 34 units, along with solar power facilities, car parking, and road access on the property. Following a vote, councillors indicated they were “minded to refuse” the application. The application is scheduled to be presented to the planning committee next month for the formal confirmation of the refusal’s wording. Paul Walton, from PWA Planning, who spoke in support of the applicant, informed the planning meeting that the application “aligns with the council’s aims regarding economic growth” and “comes from a successful entrepreneur and will support many local jobs and the local economy.” He further stated that the proposal demonstrated a dedication to showcasing the Ribble Valley as a place where enterprise can thrive, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “It is designed to a very high quality for sustainability and includes solar PV technology. It delivers on local plan objectives and is sensitive to its location,” he concluded. Conservative councillor Mark Hindle commented that it was “really refreshing” to encounter an application that would generate employment and featured “environmental design with the top specifications.” Conversely, Labour councillor Kieren Spencer stated that it represented “the wrong type of development” for the site and did not “sufficiently respect the landscape’s character.” He added, “What is currently a rural farmstead would become a large, industrial-style site.” He noted that the applicant for the Longridge site, which is designated employment land, had previously presented plans that were “far-more in-keeping” with the location “and were rightly approved.” He characterized the current proposals as “sub-standard alternatives,” stating, “Instead of delivering the Eiffel Tower, we are being asked to accept a Blackpool Tower. A far cry from what was originally planned.”