Plans for a new haulage yard on the edge of Penrith at Crossfield Farm, have been approved by Westmorland and Furness Council’s Eden Local Area Planning Committee meeting this week in Penrith at Voreda House.
The application sought permission for a haulage yard with an associated workshop and office, parking areas, and a vehicle wash facility. The now approved plans will see the redevelopment of the site, located just off the A6 North of Penrith, to provide modern facilities for a local haulage business.
The scheme attracted objections from consultees, including the Highway Authority, Environmental Health, and the Environment Agency other than from, Penrith Town Council who lodged an objection. Among the objections from the town council they said “Although there are existing agricultural buildings on the site, the additional building and the introduction of up to 20 HGV vehicles will increase the massing and make the site much more visible and intrusive from the surrounding area” adding “Although there is good access to the motorway, the land is 1.8 miles from the outskirts of Penrith with access for workers being on the whole by private car so not on a sustainable public transport route.” “It is unlikely that workers would walk or cycle to the site and that access would be by public car. The very busy A6 has no cycle lane or footpath. No travel to work plan referencing the adopted LCWIP has been included with the application and should be a consideration.”
Under council procedures due to the town council objection the application could not be determined by officers under delegated powers and instead had to be considered by the Eden Local Area Planning Committee members.
Planning officers advised the committee that despite the town council objection and comments the scheme complied with both local and national planning policy.
They added that the site’s location offered good access to the road network with easy close access to junction 41 and the M6 close to the site and the site was appropriate for the proposed use. Conditions attached to the approval will cover drainage, lighting, noise, biodiversity, and management of the vehicle wash facility.
Councillors concluded that the development would support local employment and economic activity while not giving rise to unacceptable impacts on the local area or the environment. The committee voted to grant permission, subject to the conditions proposed by planning officers.
The decision now paves the way for the new haulage yard at Crossfield Farm to be constructed allowing the existing local business to relocate.
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