The Development Control Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday 3 September 2025, approving plans for new school facilities in Preston and addressing issues at Round O Quarry. The committee also considered a planning application for a new school in Goosnargh, which was deferred for further investigation into highway safety concerns.

Preston City: Land at Cottam Primary School

The committee approved plans for extensions and alterations to Cottam Primary School, including the formation of new vehicular and pedestrian access, a new car park, a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and a single-storey extension comprising four classrooms, a studio, WCs, a plant room, and a group room. The proposal also included a 2.4m high fence. The decision was made subject to the Secretary of State confirming that the application would not be called in for determination and subject to conditions detailed in the report¹.

The need for additional school places in the Cottam area was highlighted, driven by significant new housing development. The expansion of Cottam Primary School is part of Lancashire County Council's School Place Planning Programme to address projected shortfalls. Concerns were raised by residents and Lea and Cottam Parish Council regarding potential increases in traffic congestion and road safety issues, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. Lancashire County Council Highways raised no objection, provided that specific highway improvements, including traffic regulation orders for speed limits and parking restrictions, were implemented. The proposal was considered to comply with national and local planning policies regarding design, highways, ecology, and residential amenity, with conditions imposed to manage impacts.

Preston City: Land situated off Henry Littler Way/Whittingham Lane, Goosnargh

The committee considered a planning application for the development of a new two-form entry primary school with a 16-place special educational needs unit, associated car parking, hard and soft play areas, and a drop-off area. The application was deferred to allow for further investigation into highway safety concerns, specifically regarding traffic management and the provision of a turning area or roundabout.

The proposal, located on land designated as green infrastructure in the adopted Preston Local Plan, was acknowledged to conflict with Policy EN2 of that plan. However, the draft Central Lancashire Local Plan designates the area for community, health, and education facilities, and the scale of the development was driven by the need for school places. Concerns were raised by numerous residents regarding the scale of the development, traffic impacts on Henry Littler Way and the B5269 Whittingham Lane, inadequate parking and traffic management proposals, and potential noise and visual impacts on neighbouring properties. The applicant proposed widening Henry Littler Way to create a drop-off/pick-up facility and a Section 106 agreement was required for traffic calming and management measures. The committee sought further clarification on these highway safety aspects before making a final decision.

West Lancashire Borough: Land at Round O Quarry

The committee considered an amendment to Condition 6 of planning permission 8/10/0241 to allow the approval of amended restoration contours at Round O Quarry, along with the submission of a restoration and aftercare scheme. The application sought to regularise the levels of landfilling that had exceeded permitted contours and to provide updated details for restoration and aftercare.

Concerns had previously been raised by local residents and Newburgh Parish Council regarding drainage issues, with a resident, Stuart Smith, detailing significant water runoff problems impacting his property. Martin Lovelock, the applicant's agent, presented the case for the proposed restoration, stating that a full drainage report had been commissioned and approved by the council's drainage engineer. Following a lengthy discussion, the committee resolved to defer the application pending a site visit to assess the recently installed swale and the land as a whole.

Fylde Borough: Land at Elswick Generation Station

Planning permission was granted for the retention and continuation of use of Elswick Generation Station for natural gas extraction and electricity generation until 15 July 2030, including the installation of a new generation unit. County Councillor Josh Roberts spoke on behalf of concerned residents, raising issues regarding the site's past useful life, the need for a robust traffic management plan for restoration, and financial concerns about the operator's parent company. The committee granted permission subject to conditions outlined in Appendix 'A' of the report.

Decisions taken by the Director of Environment and Planning

The committee noted a report detailing decisions taken on development control matters by the Director of Environment and Planning in accordance with the County Council's Scheme of Delegation. These decisions related to applications in West Lancashire, Burnley, and Rossendale.