1. Environment

The defined settlement boundary has been carried forward from the adopted Local Plan (January 1999). The following factors were used to draw this boundary:

1. the setting of the urban area within the Landscape (topography).
2. the limit to which the built form extends.

The settlement boundary also includes new allocated areas to allow these to come forward for development.

Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7) states that the quality and character of the wider countryside should be protected and, where possible, enhanced. Development in the countryside should be supported where it contributes to the rural economy, protects natural resources and conserves specific features and sites in accordance with statutory designations. Environmental designations, such as AONB, Green Belt, SAC, SPA, SSSI, BHS, GHS, LNI and LNR are identified in areas where the environment needs extra protection.

Outside of specific environmental designations PPS7 states that tools such as the landscape character assessment should provide sufficient protection to these areas without restricting acceptable, sustainable development and economic activities that underpin the vitality of rural areas. The Council have adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for Development in the Open Countryside (2002). All applications for development outside a settlement boundary will be considered against the material considerations contained in that SPG. In particular the Landscape Character approach must be followed for any new development. This is supported by the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan which states that development must be appropriate to the landscape character type within which the development is to be situated.

Proposals for employment in rural areas are supported through the RSS and JLSP. Policy 24 deals specifically with employment in rural areas and should be adhered to when determining planning applications for employment or farm diversification outside settlement boundaries.

New dwellings in the open countryside are not generally permitted. However, where it can be shown that it is essential for a farm or forestry worker to live at or in the immediate vicinity of their place of work an exception will be made and the construction of a dwelling permitted (refer to Annex A – PPS7). Any new dwelling should, where possible, be well related to existing buildings and have sufficient vehicle access. New dwellings in the AONB will be subject to the Council’s SPG⁴. New dwellings should not have a detrimental impact on the SAC, SPA, SSSI, BHS, GHS, LNI or LNR sites (Policies 4A, 4B and 4C) and buildings or areas of historic importance (Policies 9 and 10). Garden space and garaging should be kept to a minimum. Design should be consistent with the Development in the Open Countryside SPG. Permitted Development Rights may be withdrawn and any permission granted will be the subject of a condition to restrict the occupancy of the new dwelling to farm/forestry workers in the locality.

⁴ Borough of Pendle (2003) Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – BoP. 

The conversion of a redundant traditional building to provide one or a number of dwellings will be permitted where the development is in line with Policy 17 and PPS7. The conversion of a non-traditional building to a dwelling will not be permitted, although other alternative uses will be considered through Policies 24 and 40.

Low cost housing will be permitted in rural areas where there is a clear need. This must be proven through a valid and up-to-date housing needs assessment as detailed in Policy 17. Any proposal for affordable housing should be met in order of priority on previously developed land and buildings within a settlement boundary, followed by previously undeveloped land within a settlement boundary (Policy 17). Exception will be made in rural areas where no suitable site can be found within a settlement boundary. In this situation, the Council will permit affordable housing on small sites within or immediately adjoining an existing village. Sites must be well related to an existing village and development should be in accordance with the Landscape Character approach set out in the Council’s SPG on Development in the Open Countryside. Low cost housing sites should avoid sensitive environmental designations where possible – see Policy 17.

PPS7 identifies that tourism and leisure activities are vital to many rural economies. The tourist industry helps to sustain many rural businesses and provides a significant source of employment. Caravan parks are recognised as providing a significant proportion of all tourist accommodation. This policy allows for touring caravan and tent sites in Pendle. Static caravans will not be permitted. Touring caravan and tent sites will not be permitted within the AONB, Green Belt, SAC, SPA, SSSI, BHS, GHS, LNI or LNR areas. Similarly permission will not be granted for caravan or tent sites in areas liable to flood (see Policy 6).

The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated in 1964. There are a number of pressures operating in the AONB area which will undermine the natural beauty upon which the designation is based. These pressures include; loss of hedgerows, unsightly buildings, intensive farming, commercial conifer afforestation and visitor pressures including a high concentration of visitors at 'honey-pot' sites such as Barley Picnic site. Some of the above pressures can be controlled through the planning system when determining applications for new development. Other policies in the Local Plan apply for example, controlling the loss of hedgerows (Policy 14) and unsightly buildings (Policy 13).

Planning Policy Statement 7 – Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7) confirms that nationally designated areas, such as National Parks and AONBs, have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The conservation of the natural beauty within the Forest of Bowland AONB should therefore be given great weight when determining planning applications in the AONB.

PPS7 also states that the conservation of wildlife and the cultural heritage are important considerations in all these designated areas and should also be given great weight when determining planning applications in the AONB. It is also appropriate to consider economic and social issues, but environmental concerns should be at the forefront of any decision. Any application for development within the Forest of Bowland AONB should be determined against the guidance in the Council’s SPG: Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The SPG contains advice on the scale of development, housing, employment, farm diversification, tourism, design and landscape enhancement. A major development is 10 or more dwellings, or a residential site area of 0.5 hectare or more, or where the floor space to be built is 1,000 square metres or more, or the non-residential site area is 1.0 hectare or more.

There are five purposes of including land in Green Belt; to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas, to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another, to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns and to assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other land. To ensure the above purposes are met the JLSP identifies no strategic case for altering the general extent of the Green Belt and therefore the general extent of the Green Belt in Lancashire will be maintained. PPG2 (Green Belts) states that detailed Green Belt boundaries defined in adopted Local Plans should be altered only in exceptional circumstances.

There have been no changes to the Green Belt boundaries in Pendle.

The use of land within Green Belts will determine the effectiveness of the designation at meeting the above purposes. PPG2 states that there should be a general presumption against inappropriate development. Such development should not be approved except in very special circumstances. PPG2 provides a definition of inappropriate development and therefore clarifies what is deemed ‘appropriate’ development.

Proposed exceptions for development within the Green Belt may include the conversion of a redundant traditional building to a dwelling, a small scale extension or alteration to an existing dwelling (Policy 1), affordable housing (Policy 17), or for the replacement or re-use of an existing building for employment purposes (Policy 24), or for tourism development (Policy 40). However all exceptions must be in line with and conform to the criteria set out in the Policy.

It is intended that these areas should remain open during the plan period. They represent areas of choice for possible development to meet future long term requirements and to ensure the protection of the Green Belt. The future of these areas is to be re-examined through subsequent reviews of the plan. Should long term pressure for development after 2016 prove that the areas will not be required for development, consideration will be given to their inclusion within the Green Belt. For development control purposes Policy 1 – Development in the Open Countryside applies to land designated as a Protected Area.

The South Pennine Moors has been classified as being a Special Area for Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 which, formally transposes the EU directives into national law. This afforded protection issupported by English Nature and is intended to protect the habitats of threatened species of wildlife. The South Pennines Moor is protected because the habitat supports nationally important breeding birds including Merlin and Golden Plover. The area also supports a number of migratory breeding birds such as Peregrine Falcon, Lapwing, Whinchat, Common Sandpiper and Twite. The protection afforded to this site should ensure that any development proposals which are likely to affect the site, are subject to the most rigorous examination.

The SAC and SPA could be seriously damaged or even destroyed by development within, or, outside its boundary. Consequently English Nature must be consulted upon any type of development proposal within the SAC and SPA or within the defined consultation area, which is up to 2km from the boundary of the site, if the proposed development is outside the designated area. The existing South Pennine Moors adjoins the districts of Burnley, Bradford and Calderdale, so they must also be consulted.

Priority natural habitat types and species are defined in Annex F, Article 1 of Circular 06/2005: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their Impact within the Planning System.

SPAs are designated under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds: The Birds Directive. SACs are designated under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora: The Habitats Directive.

The South Pennine Moors has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). SSSIs are statutory sites of nature conservation and are designated through English Nature under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. PPS9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation is the national planning guidance which safeguards and protects SSSIs from adverse development.

SSSIs are designated to protect the habitats of threatened species of wildlife. This policy will ensure that any proposed development in, or within close proximity to, a SSSI will be subject to special scrutiny.

A SSSI could be seriously damaged or even destroyed by development within or outside its boundary. Therefore, English Nature must be consulted upon any type of development proposal within the SSSI or within the defined consultation area, which is up to 2km from the boundary of the site, if the proposed development is outside the designated area. The existing South Pennine Moors SSSI adjoins the districts of Burnley, Bradford and Calderdale, so they must also be consulted.

In exceptional circumstances where the reason for development clearly outweighs the nature conservation value of the site, development will be permitted. In these cases the Council will use planning obligations to ensure that mitigation and compensation measures are used to protect and enhance the site’s nature conservation interests and ensure a no net loss approach is adhered to.

The 1990 White Paper ‘This Common Inheritance’ illustrated the Government’s commitment to sustainable development through reference to conserving our natural heritage. One of the main objectives of this policy is to strike a balance between development and ensuring the effective conservation of wildlife habitats, species and natural features that are essential to the social, economic and environmental well being of the Borough. One of the main aims of the Council’s Community Strategy (2003) is to create ‘A Great Environment’, by developing a Borough that makes the best use of its natural resources to create a sustainable future.

Environmental protection and conservation is not just confined to the Internationally and Nationally designated areas. Wildlife heritage is also found throughout the countryside and in urban areas. This policy seeks to protect locally acknowledged sites of nature conservation; BHS, GHS, LNI and LNR, which have not been designated as being of international or national importance.

These locally designated sites are important to the communities of Pendle and give residents the opportunity to have a direct contact with nature. These sites can provide stepping stones from one habitat to another, ensuring that the biodiversity of flora, fauna, geological and land form features as well as the survival of important species is maintained and enhanced.

The control of development in County and District designated sites is important in conserving the natural heritage of these sites. Only under exceptional economic or social circumstances will development be permitted. Any proposed development should not have a significant impact on the designation. For any development granted planning permission conditions will be imposed to prevent any damage to wildlife habitats or important physical features and planning obligations will be imposed to ensure that there is ‘no net loss’ of habitat. Consultation with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Lancashire County Council Ecologist will be necessary in order to establish the acceptability of development within, or affecting, a County or District designated site.

Any development that directly or indirectly affects a site of ecological or nature heritage will be required to submit a full ecological assessment as part of the planning application. This ecological assessment will be a material consideration in any decision. Only in very exceptional circumstances – i.e. where it can be shown that there is an overriding community benefit from a proposal – will development be permitted at some expense to the environment (i.e. Policy 29, development of the proposed transport corridor). In response to this environmental assessment adequate and appropriate mitigation and compensation measures will be used to account for any loss of value to a designated site. Such measures may include a restriction of development, operations and working methods, or the relocation of all or part of the affected habitat in order to ensure that there is ‘no net loss’ of habitat. In all cases planning obligations will be used to secure the mitigation programme. Where relocation is involved the developer should liaise with the appropriate wildlife bodies to produce a management plan for the relocation work. This management plan should include a monitoring programme and a specified period of maintenance or care which should be a minimum of 5 years.

There are a number of different bodies that are responsible for designating sites for environmental protection. The BHS Partnership, endorsed by Lancashire County Council, is responsible for designating Biological Heritage Sites (BHSs). Lancashire County Council has also agreed that Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGs) in Lancashire, identified by the Lancashire RIGs Group, are equivalent to Geological Heritage Sites (GHSs). The Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Borough of Pendle are responsible for designating Sites of Local Natural Importance (LNIs) and Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). Guidelines have been produced for designating new environmental protection sites. In particular for the designation of LNIs proposals must follow the guidelines set out in the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s document: Guidelines for Important Wildlife Sites in Pendle (2005)6, or subsequent amendment thereof.

Site	BHS	GHS	LNI	LNR
Moor Isles Clough, Greenhead Lane
Spurn Clough, Greenhead Lane
Round Wood Swamp, Reedley Hallows
Fir Trees Brook, Higham
West Close Clough, Higham
Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Barden Lane to Junction 12, M65)
Land at Sheffield Farm, Nelson
Field at Barley Car Park
Barley Road Pasture
Slacks Wood, White Hough
White Hough and Hugh Woods
Black Moss Pasture, Roughlee
Hollin Brow, Roughlee
Banks Ends, Middle and Hollin Wood, Roughlee
Lodge Hill Syke, Bracewell
Castor Gill/Admergill Water, Blacko
Burn Moor, Blacko
Turf Fields, Barely
Claude’s Clough/ Admergill Water, Blacko
Blacko Water, Blacko
Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Foulridge Wharf to the Borough Boundary)
Broach Pasture, Foulridge
Ghyll Lane Churchyard, Barnoldswick
Bank House Flushes, Wycoller
Lomeshaye Marsh
Bleara Moor
Kelbrook Moor and Woods, Roger Moor
Foulridge Reservoirs
Gilford Clough, Trawden
Turnholes Flushes and Grassland, Wycoller
Turnholes Clough, Trawden
Coldwell Reservoirs
Catlow Valley
Old Laund Clough
Raven’s Clough Wood
Whitemoor and Weets Hill
Heald Wood, Reedley Hallows
Barden Lane Fields, Reedley Hallows
Black Moss Reservoirs
Whitemoor Reservoir
The Crank, Wycolller
Harden Clough, Kelbrook
The Former Railway Line (Colne to Earby)
Pendle Hill
Land adjacent Coldwell Resveroirs
Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Barrowford Locks to Foulridge Tunnel)
Sandhole Clough, Foulridge
Barrowford Locks Hills and Hollows
Wanless Bridge Triangle
Sough Pasture, Sough
Birch Hall Lane Pasture
Stanridge and Three Acre Cloughs
Windle Field
Wycoller Beck
Emmot House Grassland
Higher Old Laund Pasture
The Railway Sidings, Knotts Lane, Colne
Field numbers 750, 461, 462 at Gib Hill, Nelson
Salterforth Railway Cutting
Turn Hill
Castercliffe
Ball Grove Lodge, Colne
Walverden Reservoir
Greenfield, Colne
Corn Close/Bent Moor, Boulsworth
Flake Hill Moor, Trawden
Antley Gate, Boulsworth
Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Barrowford Locks to Junction 12, M65)
Upper Ball Grove, Colne
Greenfields, Colne
Alkincoats Woodland, Colne

⁶ Lancashire Wildlife Trust (2005) Guidelines for Important Wildlife Sites in Pendle. LWT 

The Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West seeks to restore and reestablish wildlife habitats and ensure the appropriate management of Wildlife Corridors. Railway lines, roadside verges, hedgerows, walls and watercourses such as canals, rivers and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) can help to form vital ecological corridors and networks. These allow species to migrate and disperse and this, in turn, helps to increase the overall biodiversity of an area. These can be classified as wildlife corridors.

One of the key priorities of Policy ER5 of the RSS is to reverse habitat fragmentation by protecting and enhancing wildlife corridors which provide ecological linkages. Developments should therefore take account of these wildlife corridors, enhance them and where appropriate extend them.

Site specific nature conservation designations do not always cover legally protected species (i.e. those protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994) as there may be many undesignated sites which provide habitats for protected species. It is therefore important that development does not harm the habitats of legally protected species or the species themselves. English Nature must be consulted upon where development proposals may impact on a protected species. In the case of European protected species such as Great Crested Newts or Bats, proposals must comply with the tests set out in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.

Provision should be made to avoid or reduce the disturbance to these species. Measures may include the use of carefully designed schemes, working methods and restrictions on development operations. In some circumstances it may be necessary to relocate the species to a replacement habitat. Planning conditions and/or obligations will be used to ensure that the total ecological resource level is maintained or enhanced by appropriate compensation measures.

The loss of wildlife in terms of variety and quantity of species and habitats is of great concern. Consideration of the targets set out in the Biodiversity Action Plan for Lancashire and the UK should be made when determining planning applications likely to affect the level of biodiversity.

It is not just important to halt the loss of biodiversity but also to enhance it. Therefore proposals which include biodiversity enhancement within the development scheme will be encouraged. Enhancement schemes may include the increased use of locally native flora within landscaped areas of a development, the creation of new wildlife habitats such as ponds, or the provision of nest boxes. However in cases where the development would result in the unavoidable reduction in the biodiversity level, planning conditions and obligations will be used to ensure that appropriate compensation measures are provided.

An ecological assessment will be required for any development proposal affecting sites defined within Policy 4D. The assessment should also detail the appropriate mitigation and compensation measures to account for any loss to these sites.

The sustainable use of renewable resources and the conservation of nonrenewable sources helps conserve the environment and reduce pollution. The main advantage is a reduction in Carbon Dioxide emissions, produced principally from the burning of fossil fuels. Additional benefits include the creation of new jobs and opportunities for rural diversification. This policy supports the implementation of renewable energy projects, including solar power, wind and organic matter (e.g. wood chippings and natural waste) in Pendle. In addition, the policy supports any new sources of renewable energy that may be developed over the period of the Plan that may assist in contributing to energy targets whilst remaining compatible with all other Local Plan policies. The policy does however recognise the importance of balancing the needs of renewable energy developments with conservation of the landscape and heritage of the Borough. As per the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan criteria, all applications should demonstrate the following; the impact on the surrounding natural and man-made built environment; the minimising of material harm to acceptable levels; the contribution to targets and green house gas emissions; the wider benefits of the proposed scheme.

The Government has set a target requiring 10% of the UK’s energy to be provided by renewable sources by 2010. The Northwest Climate Group produced an action plan for the North West⁷. This seeks to provide 10 large wind turbines and 25 small scale turbines across the North West as part of the commitment to meeting the national target for renewable energy by 2010. The Regional Spatial Strategy for the Northwest seeks a positive approach to renewable energy provision. PPS22 (Renewable Energy) states that the wider environmental and economic benefits of all proposals for renewable energy projects, whatever their scale, are material considerations that should be given significant weight in determining whether proposals should be granted planning permission. The Government’s policies for developing renewable energy sources must be weighed carefully with its continuing commitment to policies for protecting the environment. It will always be a material consideration that a particular proposal should demonstrate minimum harm to the countryside, as identified in the Council’s SPG, Development in the Open Countryside (2002). In Pendle energy companies have demonstrated that the Borough is unable to accommodate large scale wind farms due to both the geographical and environmental factors found within the area. For this reason, the Council will resist any proposals for large scale wind farms. However, this policy supports those applications that are possible without serious environmental detriment and that will contribute to Lancashire County Council’s targets for onshore renewable energy electrical generation (95MW by 2007, 116MW by 2010).

⁷ Sustainability Northwest (2001) From Power to Prosperity: advancing renewable energy in
northwest England. SN

Development projects will be confined to those that supply some community benefit to the local area via contributions to a local community fund in cases where the tests of Circular 05/2005 are met. This Policy also seeks to control new development in areas of important environmental designation, namely AONB, SAC, SPA, SSSI, Green Belt, Biological Heritage Sites, Geological Heritage Sites, sites of Local Natural Importance or Local Nature Reserves. These are areas where the structures or equipment involved in producing renewable sources of energy are likely to cause most environmental harm (with the exception of solar power). The Council’s Supplementary Planning Guidance (Development in the Open Countryside) contains further advice. Sensitivity must not only be applied to those applications within designated areas but also those adjacent to designated areas. Wind turbines in particular, when adjacent to designated areas, may affect people’s enjoyment of the objectives of the designated area. Therefore an assessment should be made regarding visibility from the designated area and the precise character of the countryside.

Small scale and building related renewables including low or zero energy schemes also provide great potential for increasing energy efficiency and reducing reliance on non-renewable energy forms. Such developments should be encouraged and should be a key consideration in the determination of planning applications.

All redundant equipment and structures should be removed within 1 year. Planning Permissions will be conditioned to this effect. Tougher decommissioning targets for wind turbines are set in the Council’s SPG.

The Government’s policy on flood risk is to reduce the risks to people and the developed and natural environment. Experience over recent years suggests that both the frequency and scale of flooding may be increasing. PPG25 (Development and Flood Risk) attributes this to variations in rainfall and increased development in areas at risk. In addition, climate change is expected to increase the risk of both coastal and river flooding as a result of sea-level rise.

The Environment Agency has prepared maps showing areas of flood risk. These maps identify Flood Zones, and classify areas as Flood Zone 3 (high risk), Flood Zone 2 (low to medium risk) or Flood Zone 1 (little or no risk), and in accordance with Table 1 of PPG25, which identifies the types of development appropriate to each zone. The Council has produced Supplementary Planning Guidance¹¹ for Development and Flood Risk that was adopted in 2004 and which it regularly updates. It contains maps prepared by the Environment Agency that identify Flood Zones and advice on flooding issues. The Environment Agency has the lead role in relation to planning applications and flood risk. Any application for new buildings proposed in the floodplain and where the Environment Agency perceive there to be a risk, should be accompanied by a Flood Risk Assessment. This should evaluate the potential risk, identify increases in flooding elsewhere as a result of the proposed development and should detail any remedial actions. This is in line with the precautionary approach detailed in PPG25. The Council will not validate planning applications for development in flood risk areas that are not accompanied by a Flood Risk Assessment.

¹¹ Borough of Pendle (2004) Development and Flood Risk. BoP See Appendix 3 to find out how to obtain a copy.

PPG25 requires local planning authorities to adopt a risk-based approach to proposals for development in or affecting flood risk areas. The aim of this policy is to limit development in areas at risk of flooding, unless adequate alleviation measures can be implemented by the developer. The Council’s SPG gives details on the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) as a flood alleviation measure. This guidance should be used in the determination of planning applications. Any alleviation measures must not compromise alleviation measures or increase flood risk further downstream (including cross-district). The Policy also attempts to avoid increases in surface run-off in excess of the manageable capacity of a floodplain. In addition the Policy seeks to avoid development which would impact on existing or proposed flood alleviation measures, prevent access to rivers for routine maintenance and improvement, or introduce culverts that could become blocked and create a flood risk either to the development itself or elsewhere.

Groundwater resources are essential to the Borough’s public water supply, rivers and streams. Its protection is fundamental in contributing towards a sustainable environment, and the Community Strategy’s aim of improved health for the residents of Pendle.

As well as providing a source of water supply, groundwater resources are equally important for maintaining surface waters through springs and rivers, and supporting wetlands and their ecosystems. Consequently, any reduction in the quality and quantity of groundwater will also detrimentally impact on the Borough’s surface water provision. The groundwater resources of Pendle are coming under increased pressure. Development of housing and industry can influence natural run off patterns and in effect prevent the groundwater supply from replenishing. Pollution from industry and farm effluents can effect quality.

Through close liaison with the Environment Agency and Water Companies, the Council will assist in water resource protection by resisting development that will detrimentally affect groundwater supply.

Surface water resources, such as the Leeds – Liverpool Canal and the Foulridge reservoirs, offer important community value through recreation and tourism, as well as providing sanctuary for wildlife. In addition to creating a flood risk, the culverting of open watercourses reduces groundwater recharge and increases the difficulty in detecting the origins of pollution and in monitoring the quality of surface waters. Culverting also results in the loss of wildlife habitats.

It is important that development has regard to and does not harm such areas. The views of the Environment Agency will be sought on any proposal affecting a surface water resource. Where conflict with development is unavoidable, a design statement will be required of the developer to illustrate how the proposal will take account of the resource and ensure there is no net loss to the community it serves. Contamination of ground and surface water is dealt with in Policy 8.

Central Government attach great importance to the control and minimisation of pollution. Through the White Paper (1990)¹² they have made clear their commitment to sustainable development, by minimising the risk to human health and the environment through the prevention of pollution and contamination.

¹² Department of Environment (1990) This Common Inheritance – White Paper. DoE. 

The purpose of this policy is to prevent the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, ground or controlled waters through leakage and drainage from, and disturbance of, contaminated land. The policy also seeks to control nuisances such as noise, light and odour. Any developer proposing potentially contaminating development will be required to supply a statement detailing possible pollution and remedial action. For the purposes of this policy Industrial includes B1 (b), B1 (c), B2 and B8. Other developments likely to cause odours, noise, light or vibration include; A3 (restaurants/cafes), A4 (pubs/bars), A5 (hot food take-aways) uses, tattoo studios, pet shops, kennel or catteries. It is particularly important to control light pollution in the open countryside and any application involving lighting in the open countryside should be accompanied by a statement in line with the Council’s SPG (Development in the Open Countryside).

The Council’s Environmental Health Department and the pollution control authorities will be consulted upon all potentially polluting development proposals. Proposals will be assessed against the possible impact on surrounding land use, including the effects on health, the natural environment and controlled surface and groundwater’s or general amenity, and the proximity of sensitive land uses, including schools, housing and environmental designations, to any potential pollutants. Any proposal which is shown to pollute or potentially pollute the environment will be resisted. Remedial actions to control or reduce pollution can successfully render a potentially polluting use suitable. All remedial actions should be identified in the supporting statement.

In some cases planning permission may be granted where pollution can be kept to a minimum and the social and economic benefits outweigh the environmental concerns. Many developments can be controlled through the use of conditions. For example the introduction of floodlighting to existing sports facilities in the Green Belt may be of benefit to the community, but at the same time will increase levels of light and noise pollution. Conditions may be imposed to limit the type of pollutant, in this case a restriction on evening opening times and landscaping could be used to deter the pollutant impacts.

PPS23 (Planning and Pollution Control) stresses that development plans should steer development onto appropriate previously developed land, some of which may be affected by contamination. Likewise the RSS seeks to tackle derelict and contaminated land. Such recycling can also provide an opportunity to deal with the threats to health or the environment posed by contamination. Any proposal for development on a brownfield site or on or in close proximity to a landfill site must be accompanied by a full site investigation into the potential risk from land contamination and migrating landfill gases. A site investigation must be carried out by an appropriately qualified geotechnical professional. A comprehensive remediation scheme, including a timetable and future monitoring must be included where appropriate. Remedial measures agreed as part of any planning permission should be implemented and completed in accordance with the agreed scheme. In applying this Policy, the Council will have regard to advice given by the Environment Agency and other relevant bodies.

Buildings or monuments of historic, architectural or cultural importance can be listed. Statutory Listed Buildings are subject to stringent planning control. Listed Building consent must be obtained before any alteration can be made which would affect a statutory Listed Building’s special interest. As well as the statutory list (prepared by DCMS), Lancashire County Council maintain a record of all sites and monuments in Lancashire. The JLSP supports designations of both national and local importance. The Council will recommend the statutory listing of buildings where special historic or architectural interest is believed to exist. In addition, the Council will compile a local list of buildings of historic or architectural importance in consultation with local people.

Every effort will be made to preserve statutory Listed Buildings. PPG15 (Planning and the Historic Environment) states that applications for demolition of any Listed Building should be carefully scrutinised and suggests that there will be very few occasions where demolition is considered unavoidable. In very exceptional circumstances where permission is granted for the demolition of a statutory Listed Building, the Council will firstly have to approve detailed plans for the redevelopment of the site and the letting contract for development, submitted by the developer. It will also be necessary for the developer to provide means for the recording and storage of features and materials from Listed Buildings where demolition consent is granted.

Generally the best way of securing the upkeep of buildings is to keep them in active use. However, change of use and subsequent alterations or extensions can be damaging to a Listed Building. PPG15 states that achieving a balance between the special interest of a Listed Building and proposals for alterations or extensions is demanding and should always be based on specialist expertise. The Council will consult their Conservation Officer on any application for proposed change of use or alteration to a Listed Building or its setting. Applications will be refused where there is insufficient detail to enable the determination of that application. Further guidance is contained within the Built Heritage Strategy¹⁴ ‘Laying Foundations’.

¹⁴ Borough of Pendle (1997) Built Heritage Strategy: Laying Foundations. BoP 

Where proposals affect any non-listed building of architectural or historic importance, the Council will seek to control development which significantly affects the structure or its setting, and the approach will be similar to that set out for statutorily Listed Buildings. Controls will, however, generally be less stringently applied and will be at a level commensurate with the importance of the building.

It is important for developers to be aware that buried archaeological remains often survive under and around Listed and non-Listed Buildings. The impact of development in these areas should be assessed against criteria set out in Policy 11.

Conservation Areas are areas of special architectural or historic importance that have special character and/or appearance which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Conservation Areas can be designated by the Local Authority with the involvement of local people. It is the intention of the Council to conserve the special features of existing Conservation Areas and to designate new Conservation Areas where appropriate. In exercising Conservation Area controls, local planning authorities are required to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area. The general presumption should be in favour of retaining buildings which make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of a Conservation Area. The Council have prepared SPG for a number of the Borough’s Conservation Areas. Article 4 directions may be used to remove permitted development rights within Conservation Areas. This would then help to further control development which may occur in these areas.

PPG15: Planning and the Historic Environment considers the setting of a Conservation Area to be important in preserving or enhancing the area. PPG15 states that the desirability of preserving or enhancing a Conservation Area should be a material consideration when determining development proposals which are outside of a Conservation Area but would affect its setting, or view into or out of the area.

The demolition of buildings within a Conservation Area is strictly controlled. PPG15 contains guidance on proposals to demolish such buildings stating that proposals should be assessed against the same criteria as for Listed Buildings.

PPG15 states that local planning authorities should protect registered parks and gardens in determining planning applications. The Council will seek to protect and enhance any parks, gardens and cemeteries of historic interest and their setting. The most important of these may be included on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

It is important for developers to be aware that buried archaeological remains often survive in areas of architectural or historic interest. The impact of development in these areas should be assessed against criteria set out in Policy 11.

The Government describe archaeological remains as finite and non-renewable resources, in many cases fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction. Archaeological remains contain irreplaceable information about our past and are valuable for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism. Demands for a modern society mean that it is not always possible to preserve all archaeological remains. A balance must be sought between preservation of archaeology and modern development. This policy seeks to preserve in situ those archaeological remains of national importance, whether Scheduled Monuments (Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979) or not. In January 2005 there were 11 Scheduled Monuments in Pendle Borough. These are identified on the proposals map. More sites may be added to the schedule as research is undertaken and sites identified.

For the purpose of this policy, preservation means to prevent any alteration which would cause damage to the monument or impact on the setting of visible remains. Development which would harm a nationally important monument, whether scheduled or not, will not be permitted. Works to Scheduled Monuments or which would affect their settings almost always require Scheduled Monument Consent from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and early consultation with their advisors, English Heritage, is recommended.

As well as Scheduled Monuments there are many other archaeological and historic sites of interest in Pendle Borough. Many of these are included in the Lancashire Sites and Monuments Record, which is maintained by Lancashire County Council Archaeological Services. Sites and monuments contained on this Record can be of national, county, regional or local importance and may be buried or standing remains, findspots or landscape features.

Development proposals that affect sites that are neither Scheduled Monuments nor otherwise of national importance will be dealt with on their merits. Where development proposals could affect a site or its setting the developer may be required to carry out an archaeological assessment or undertake a site evaluation before any planning application is determined. The Government’s attitude to archaeological sites is set out in PPG16, where there is a presumption in favour of preservation of Scheduled Monuments. Other archaeological sites are to be dealt with on their merits, but it is acknowledged that preservation by record is only a second-best option. The Council will seek advice from the Lancashire County Council Archaeological Service when making decisions on the need for an archaeological assessment or evaluation and the suitability of a proposed development. Only development which seeks to conserve any archaeological remains will be permitted. Where development is permitted recording work may be necessary before or during development. This will be sought through a planning condition or other legal agreement. 

Informal open spaces within defined settlement boundaries often play an essential role in the character of that particular settlement, with regard to setting and local amenity. It is important that these areas are identified and development is resisted, in order to conserve settlement character. However, enhancement and improvement to the existing on site facilities will be permitted provided the proposal maintains the openness and character of the site. For example, the creation of formal open space is encouraged through Policy 34.

The sites identified above are all allocated on the proposals map. Smaller sites can offer a similar benefit to local amenity, and so contribute toward settlement character. These sites have been identified through the Open Space Audit (2003) appearing as Amenity Open Space, and will afford the same protection. Exceptions to development on these smaller sites will only be made through Policy 33.

Through this policy the Council aims to protect and enhance the heritage and character of the Borough, by encouraging high standards of design in new and existing development. This is important in realising the Council’s Community Strategy objectives which seek to ensure that the residents of Pendle enjoy the best possible quality of life, and that Pendle is an attractive place where people choose to live, work and visit. Quality in new development is also a key development principle of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

The quality of our built environment is dependent not only on the merits of individual buildings, but also in the degree to which each building blends harmoniously into the environment. The key to good design is one that provides for the needs of the occupants, whilst responding sensitively to site characteristics and surroundings. It is essential that site layout, external appearance and the use of materials for walling and roofs are sympathetic to surroundings and reflect the character of the area.

Pendle faces major difficulties in dealing with the problems of redundant and unfit housing, this has contributed towards many local environments being sub standard, and greatly affects the Borough’s ability to maintain and attract new population. The Council will seek to encourage proposals which promote a high standard of design throughout the Borough.

Poorly designed shop front security measures, and insensitively positioned advertisements can detrimentally impact upon an area. Good design will ensure that such proposals are in harmony with the built or natural environment, and positively contribute toward the character and appearance of our towns, villages and countryside, without impacting on amenity or compromising safety. A leaflet entitled ‘Shop Front Security’ has been produced and should be used in conjunction with this policy. Specific control will apply in Conservation Areas through Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) or Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD).

Guidance upon sustainable construction techniques will be contained within the ‘Development Control Principles’ Development Plan Document (DPD). Guidance upon sustainable drainage systems is contained within the SPG for ‘Flood Risk’, a separate SPG deals with ‘Crime Prevention in Residential Development’.

Aside from their obvious aesthetic value, trees, woodlands and hedgerows provide important environmental, health and biodiversity benefits. The Council is committed to their protection and will seek to preserve them where appropriate as defined by the DETR publication; Tree Preservation Orders: a guide to the law and good practice, through the creation of Tree Preservation Orders, and guidance contained within the Hedgerow Regulations (1997).

It is important to maintain the visual setting of ancient woodland and promote ecological health in woodland in general. Ancient woodland is land that has had continuous woodland cover since 1600. There are five ancient woodlands of 2.0 hectares or more in the Borough and one immediately adjacent to but outside the Borough. These are designated as Biological Heritage Sites (Policy 4C). The Forestry Commission must now be notified on all proposals where any part of the development site consists of an ancient woodland, or, where any part of the site is within 500 metres of an ancient woodland and where the proposal involves erecting new or extending existing buildings.

The location of trees often provides a valuable contribution to the local setting and it is important that any proposed development respects the location of existing trees. A tree survey will be required as a component of all planning applications where trees are found on site or on adjacent land. The survey must be undertaken by a suitably qualified person, and should be in accordance with considerations in British Standard 5837 (2005) (section 4 and 5)¹⁷. Details of appropriate Root Protection Areas (RPA), protective barriers and distance of proposed development from existing trees will be included as determined by BS5837 (2005). A plan showing the development layout with regard to building position, infrastructure, services and levels (both existing and proposed) should be submitted to be read in conjunction with the tree survey. Planning conditions will be used to protect existing trees, woodland and hedgerows in the interests of amenity and to facilitate sensitive management thereafter.

¹⁷ Such considerations include the health, size, life expectancy and location of a particular tree, trees to be retained and those to be removed.

Woodland cover in Pendle is low in comparison with regional and national coverage. The Government’s forestry policy, set out in the England Forestry Strategy (1999) has two aims: i) the sustainable management of existing woods and forests and; ii) a continued expansion of woodland area to provide more benefits for society and the environment. The Strategy recognises that well planned and managed woodland will contribute towards the sustainable development of the Borough through the improved appearance of the countryside, job creation, improvements to air quality and the potential regeneration of redundant sites. 

The Open Space Audit¹⁸ (2004) identifies surpluses and deficiencies of all woodland coverage within the Borough, and will be used to guide new provision to where it is most needed. The Council will encourage the planting of new woodland both in its own right and as extensions to existing woodland, and will look to regenerate derelict, under used or neglected land as a priority. Hedgerow planting will be encouraged where boundaries are formed by new development. Species should be native to the area.

¹⁸ Borough of Pendle (2004) Open Space Audit. BoP. See Appendix 3 to find out how to obtain a copy. 

Development proposals for woodland planting should provide a suitable mix of native broad leaf trees and under storey shrubs. Lancashire County Council’s SPG: Landscape and Heritage gives guidance on the creation of new woodland. Developers should also refer to the Community Woodland Design Guidelines, published by the Forestry Commission. The guidance suggests that new woodland should blend sympathetically, being of suitable scale with the land form, whilst not detracting from the visual, ecological, wildlife or archaeological value of any natural features or designated sites and should avoid regular or geometric shapes. Woodland planting within the Open Countryside should be consistent with the requirements of each countryside character type, as identified in the Council’s SPG: Development in the Open Countryside. In general new woodland planting should avoid the environmental designations (Policies 4A-C), however there may be circumstances where new woodland planting in a designated area is appropriate. 

Through partnership the Council will proactively encourage new woodland planting and establishment schemes. East Lancashire Woodland Partnership (ELWOOD) aims to increase woodland coverage by direct Council action and by action of private and other landowners, and will provide grant assistance which can be used alongside funding from the Forestry Commission to plant new, and manage existing woodland.

Landscaping can make an important contribution to the appearance and impact of a building or groups of buildings. A well-designed landscaping scheme can add to the quality of a development and may serve a number of useful functions including the greening of an area, as means to provide screening for unsightly features and the segregation of differing land uses.

A well-designed landscaping scheme can also help to meet some of the objectives set out in the UK and Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plans. Landscaping can provide new habitats for a range of wildlife species of both flora and fauna. This will help to increase the variety of species in an area therefore maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. 

Landscaping schemes should be sympathetic in design, appropriate to the site’s character and surrounding land uses. Schemes as a minimum should provide detail of plant species (size, spacing or planting rate, handling and planting measures, staking of trees), depth, quality and cultivation of top soil, type and depth of mulch. Submitted schemes must show all existing and proposed services both above and below ground and all planting shown must be in accordance with recommendations of each particular service provider in terms of distance from the particular service. Where schemes involve the provision of other ecological features such as ponds, details should be provided about the size and siting of these. A maintenance schedule must also be submitted, detailing inspection frequencies, weed control, replacement of plant failures and other necessary operations to ensure the successful establishment of the landscaping scheme. 

The Council will seek to limit the obtrusive impact of suburban garden fencing on the open countryside, by requiring wall or hedgerow planting as part of all landscaping schemes for development at the edge of a defined settlement boundary or in the open countryside.

Planning conditions may be imposed to ensure the implementation of both the landscaping scheme and maintenance schedule.

Figure 1: Environment Sustainability Balance