The Development Control Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The committee considered two linked planning applications for Westbury Brickworks.

Westbury Brickworks, Annas Road, Westby with Plumptons

The committee considered two linked planning applications for Westbury Brickworks. The first application (LCC/2026/0010) sought retrospective planning permission for a bagging plant building and the relocation of an existing wash plant. The second application (LCC/2026/0011) sought to remove Condition 13 of a previous planning permission, which prohibited the crushing or screening of glass in the yard area.

Bagging Plant Building and Wash Plant (LCC/2026/0010)

The committee granted planning permission for the erection of a bagging plant building and the siting of an external wash plant, subject to conditions. This application was part retrospective, with the bagging plant building already partially constructed and the wash plant having been operating in the yard area. The recommendation to grant permission was subject to conditions, including the submission of a surface water drainage strategy and measures for the containment of stockpile waste.

During the discussion, concerns were raised by local residents regarding noise, dust, traffic, and the applicant's compliance history. Officers explained that noise assessments indicated no significant adverse impact on residential properties and that the Environment Agency had raised no objections. They also clarified that past compliance issues could not be considered when determining the current application on its planning merits. The committee voted to approve the application.

Removal of Condition 13 (LCC/2026/0011)

The committee then considered the application to remove Condition 13, which prevented the crushing and screening of glass in the yard area. This was linked to the relocation of the wash plant and the need to regularise activities already taking place on site. The recommendation was to grant permission, subject to amended conditions.

There was debate about whether a wash plant constituted screening. Concerns were raised about the potential for mobile crushing equipment to be brought onto the site if the condition was removed, and the contradiction of allowing outdoor operations while requiring internal crushing and screening to be contained.

Ultimately, the committee agreed to amend Condition 13 to limit crushing and screening to within the approved building and to restrict washing operations to the building or the designated wash plant area. The precise wording of this amended condition was delegated to officers in conjunction with the Chair and Vice-Chair. The committee then voted to approve the application with this amended condition.

Other Business

The committee also noted the updated Terms of Reference for the Development Control Committee, incorporating the new statutory National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions, and decisions taken by the Director of Environment and Regulatory in accordance with the County Council's Scheme of Delegation. The date of the next meeting was set for 9 December 2026.