HERE is a look at five planning stories the Star covered during July.
These include proposed homes on former green belt land in Garswood, currently in the pre-planning stage; submitted plans for a new shop at the recently-closed Glassblower pub; and approval of plans for the former Peacocks unit at St Helens Retail Park.
Plans for the installation of floorspace in the unit formerly home to Peacocks at St Helens Retail Park have been approved.
An application proposing the installation of floorspace at mezzanine level in unit A2 has been granted permission.
The plans comprise the creation of an additional 948 sq m – gross internal area (GIA) – of floorspace at the unit at the retail park off Peasley Cross Lane.
In the cover letter, it said there are no external works proposed as part of this application – and the floorspace is required to ‘meet the operational requirements of a prospective incoming tenant’ and will ensure that the floorspace ‘continues to contribute to the positive economic impacts’ of the retail park.
Plans said: “The new floorspace will be used for the retail sale and display of goods in accordance with the established use of the floorspace at the site."
The tenant was not specified in the application.
Read the story here.
220 homes in Garswood
A public consultation has been launched regarding initial plans for around 220 homes on former green belt land in Garswood.
Housebuilders Persimmon has launched a website to gauge feedback about the proposed development on a 24.75 acre site at Weathercock Hill Farm, situated around Billinge Road, Garswood Road, and Smock Lane.
Although the plans are in their very early stages, Persimmon hopes to use the feedback to build a detailed planning application on land allocated for housing in St Helens Council's Local Plan, which was removed from the green belt to help meet the borough's housing needs.
Persimmon's website shows that around 220 new homes are proposed for the green belt land, comprising a mix of detached and semi-detached properties.
The housebuilders claim that the development will boost the supply of much needed homes in the borough, while also providing an affordable housing offer and improvements to local infrastructure.
Nevertheless, building on (former or current) green belt land is always controversial and residents are often concerned about the impact on traffic and local infrastructure that such a development would bring.
Read the story here.
Shop at former bookies' unit
Plans for a convenience store at a former betting shop which sparked a petition by dozens of residents in objection can go ahead.
An application was sent in earlier this year for a proposed change of use of the vacant former William Hill on Seddon Street, Windlehurst, into a retail premises.
Applicant Mr A Kanthanathan submitted the bid for a certificate of lawfulness to council planners, which claimed that prior approval is not required for the conversion.
More than 60 residents objected, with a petition launched by residents against the application.
One resident said: "We also have another shop just at the bottom of Hard Lane so that makes two within a two-minute walk of each other.
"It is to no one’s benefit for another shop to move in five doors done from an existing one and I can speak for the street and surrounding area when I say we do not want another shop."
However, a planning officer said: "The proposed use will maintain the commercial use of the unit and is considered to generate similar levels of noise, activity and comings and goings as the unit’s previous use as a betting office.
"Whilst concern has been raised regarding parking, traffic and highway safety, Seddon Street has no parking restrictions and given the nature of the proposed retail use, any parking required will likely be for short periods of time”.
The conversion to a betting shop was permitted “proving the developer provides written notification of the date on which the use of the building will change”.
Read the full story here.
Former Glassblower pub
Plans to convert a recently-closed pub into a supermarket were drawn up.
An application seeking a certificate of lawfulness for the proposed change of use of the former Glassblower pub on Boundary Road has been sent to the council.
Applicant J Anand has sent in the bid for the conversion to council planners.
Plans stated that the pub had ceased trading in May this year.
A certificate of lawfulness is a means of obtaining a decision from a planning authority that a proposed use or works do not require planning permission.
Plans said: "The proposed space will provide a local shop for local people with the conversion within Planning Class E."
A deadline for a decision by council planners has been set for Wednesday, August 21.
Read the story here.
Convenience store in Rainhill
Controversial plans for a convenience store in Rainhill have been approved – despite more than 200 objections.
Central England Co-operative’s application for the erection of a convenience store with parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure – on the land and passageway between 637 And 639 Warrington Road – came before the planning committee on Tuesday, July 23.
The committee was told that the proposed development will “provide a boost for the local economy, complementing the existing retail offering in Rainhill, and creating jobs for local people” – while simultaneously re-developing a “vacant and overgrown plot of land” in a way which is “sympathetic” to the area’s landscape character and achieves a “biodiversity net gain”.
Many concerns have been raised over the plans.
Cllr Donna Greaves said she was at the meeting “solely to represent the residents”, the over 200 who objected with their views.
She said that this site “will only impact further the safety of pedestrians and the flow of traffic on an already precarious stretch of road”.
Plans said: “There will be an opportunity for 20 staff to be employed at the convenience store which will provide an opportunity for local employability."
Councillors on the committee approved the application.
Read the full story here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel