The West Lancashire Council Planning Committee met on Thursday, 4 September 2025 to discuss planning applications. The committee was scheduled to review applications for construction at Burscough Football Club and for retrospective permission for an agricultural building on land north of Back Lane.

Planning Applications

Burscough Football Club, Bobby Langton Way, Burscough

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for construction at Burscough Football Club, Bobby Langton Way, Burscough. The application, reference 2024/0654/FUL, sought permission for:

• A part two/part single storey extension to the existing clubhouse, to house an additional bar and WC facilities to replace the existing free-standing toilet cabin and storage.
• A first-floor extension to create a kitchen and coverage over the existing external stairs.
• Retrospective planning permission for a first-floor viewing gallery incorporated into the new design.
• Construction of an extension to the existing parking area.

The report pack noted that Councillor Edward Pope, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, had requested that the application be called in for discussion due to concerns about the impact on local transport infrastructure and residential amenities, as well as a perceived lack of emergency exit provision. Councillor Andy Fowler, Chairperson of Audit & Governance, had also requested the application be called in, citing concerns about the impact on residential amenity, local highways (parking), and the potential light and noise impact during evenings and weekends.

The Assistant Director of Planning & Regulatory Services made a recommendation that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

The report pack noted that the site is located within the Green Belt¹ as designated in the West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD². The relevant policies included:

• National Planning Policy Framework

  • Promoting healthy and safe communities
  • Achieving well-designed places
  • Protecting Green Belt land

• West Lancashire Local Plan Policies

  • SP1 - A Sustainable Development Framework for West Lancashire
  • GN1 - Settlement Boundaries
  • GN3 - Criteria for Sustainable Development
  • IF2 - Enhancing Sustainable Transport Choice
  • IF3 - Service Accessibility and Infrastructure for Growth

• Supplementary Planning Document - Design Guide (January 2008)

• Supplementary Planning Document, Development in the Green Belt (October 2015)

• Burscough Parish Neighbourhood Plan (July 2019)

The report pack stated that the development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt, but that there were very special circumstances that would outweigh the limited harm to the Green Belt. These included:

• The proposal would partially replace a temporary structure (an existing WC cabin).
• The proposal would allow the provision of an on-site kitchen together with appropriate storage areas so that existing visitors can be provided with food/drinks which will in turn generate income to support the club.
• The proposal will provide better provision for less able supporters given them access to the provided toilet and kitchen facilities at ground floor.
• The site supports 37 football teams associated with Burscough FC and provides facilities in association with another 18 teams at various levels of the game for example over 1270 children use the ground on a weekly basis.
• The club, on a non-commercial basis, currently allows several community groups to use their meeting spaces and the proposed development will allow this to be expanded providing better facilities for those using the site.
• The proposed development would allow the football club to better meet the FA standards in relation to the facilities they provide for players and supporters and thus continue to provide this in the long term.
• The provision of an additional 50 spaces on site over what was originally approved will be of great benefit and allow visitors to park on site rather than within the town centre car parks.

The report pack also noted that the Football Association (FA) had offered financial grant support in principle, contingent on the approval of the clubhouse extension plans.

Land To The North Of, Back Lane, Newburgh

The committee was also scheduled to consider application 2025/0451/FUL, a request for retrospective planning permission for an agricultural storage and livestock building on land to the north of Back Lane, Newburgh.

The storage building measures 14m in width x 6m in depth, with a total height of 3.6m. The livestock building (chicken shed) measures 6m in width x 2.4m in depth, with a total height of 2.4m.

The report pack noted that Councillor Whittington had requested that the application be called in to consider the siting of the development as well as its use.

The Assistant Director of Planning & Regulatory Services made a recommendation that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

The report pack stated that the application site is located within the Green Belt as designated in the West Lancashire Local Plan Proposal Map. The relevant policies included:

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

• West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD

  • GN1 - Settlement Boundaries
  • GN3 - Criteria for Sustainable Development

• Supplementary Planning Document, Design Guide (Jan 2008)

• Supplementary Planning Document, Development in the Green Belt (October 2015)

The report pack stated that the applicant had demonstrated the agricultural use for the building and the principle of the development for agricultural purposes was accepted. The development was therefore considered to be appropriate development in the Green Belt and complies with the NPPF and Policy GN1 of the Local Plan.

Other items

The agenda also included:

• Apologies for absence.
• Notification of any changes to the membership of the committee.
• Urgent business introduced by the chair.
• Declarations of interest.
• Declarations of party whip.
• Approval of the minutes from the meeting held on 24th July 2025.