Following what seemed to be an unusually straightforward planning application process, with fewer than five separate letters of objection to the proposed development, and a wholly positive response from the local authority officers, we attended the meeting of the Planning Committee at Ribble Valley Borough Council last night with some slight trepidation that things were going too smoothly.
The council meeting will be remembered by most for the determination of the scheme for over 1,000 dwellings at Standen, Clitheroe – where members voted to grant permission, much to the disgust of many in the packed council chamber.
Once the heckling had subsided and the building had cleared, it was our turn to convince members that our scheme was worthy of their support. Councillors listened to our enthusiastic address and, characteristic of the manner of this particular planning application, voted unanimously to approve.
For a mainly green-field development of over 30 dwellings, on a site lying outside the settlement boundary, it passed almost without comment.
Perhaps the Standen effect worked to our advantage or perhaps it is a sign of the times for the new world order in the planning system. Either way, neither we, nor our client was complaining and we left Clitheroe with some sense of satisfaction for another job completed successfully.
