Plans to create a rural business park in Broughton have been rejected by Preston City Council.

The development on land at Orchard Farm, 115 Whittingham Lane, would have comprised of 33 units across nine single storey blocks, covering up to 2,729 sq m of floorspace for use Class B8 (storage and distribution) and use Class E (commercial, business and service).

Advertisements

The reason given for refusal is that the business park does not align with Policy EN1 of the Preston Local and Core Strategy plan 2012-2026.

Developers had argued the park would have a number of benefits including the creation of jobs through the construction phase and increasing bio-diversity.

However, council planners also highlighted that the application fails to demonstrate there is a local business and community need for the proposed development.

Read more: New plans for Cuerden site announced

Broughton Parish Council raised objections against the proposal, including:

• The application site is within the open countryside and is not designated in the Neighbourhood Development Plan for any form of development
• The site is accessed down a narrow farm lane and the addition of larger vehicles over the working week will increase highway safety issues
• The application is for outline permission for access only with all matters reserved which infers that the proposed design could be altered in the future

27 letters of objection had also been received. The letters mentioned concerns about impact on flooding, traffic, wildlife and climate change.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines