Rejected: plan that removed an eyesore

A HOUSING plan that would have removed a long-standing eyesore, improved wildlife habitats and caused no harm to the Green Belt has been thrown out by Warrington planners.
Sole reason for rejecting the proposal for one detached house at the rear of Mill Lane, Lymm was that it would add unnecessarily to the borough’s surplus of housing land.
Officers admitted there were very special circumstances to allow the development in the Green Belt.
But they still recommended refusal – and the borough’s planning committee agreed.
The scheme involved demolishing a derelict industrial building and replacing a builder’s yard with a small paddock.
A near neighbour supported the scheme and said local residents had, for 15 years, had to endure three derelict buildings on the site which “ruined the landscape” and attracted petty crime and vermin.
Borough councillors Sheila Woodyatt and Bob Barr also supported the scheme.
Officers accepted a new dwelling could be introduced without causing significant harm to nearby homes or the free flow of traffic.
Replacing the builder’s yard with a paddock would improve the potential for wildlife.
They did not consider the new house would have any material impact on the openness of the Green Belt.
But they added: “Other harm would be caused by the proposal as it would add unnecessarily to the surplus availability of housing land and the application is considered to be unacceptable for this reason.”