The Planning Regulatory Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss two planning applications, and to review the performance of the Development Management function since April 2024.

Planning Performance

The Planning Committee report September 2025 will provide an update on the performance of the Development Management function since April 2024. The report pack states that the Planning and Enforcement Teams determine in the region of 1500 applications a year, including discharge of planning conditions, non-material amendments and the council’s pre-application offering.

The report will provide information on planning and enforcement appeals, and contains details on Quarter 4 2024-2025 (January – March 2025) and also Quarter 1 2025- 2026 (April to June 2025).

The report pack states that performance has traditionally been measured in terms of time taken to determine a planning application, with a target of 13 weeks for major applications, and 8 weeks for householder and other applications. The government has set Local Planning Authority performance targets as follows:

• 60% of Major Applications to be determined within 13 weeks or the agreed time extension
• 70% of Minor Applications and Others to be determined within 8 weeks or the agreed time extension

The report pack states that the service is exceeding the timescales imposed by government.

The report also provides information on planning appeals. According to the report pack, between 1 January to 30 June 2025, 23 planning and enforcement appeals decisions were issued. Of these, 19 were written representations, 3 were hearings, and 1 was an inquiry. Of the written representations, 5 were allowed and 14 were dismissed. Of the hearings, 1 was allowed and 1 was dismissed. The inquiry was allowed.

The report pack states that the percentage of planning appeals allowed stands at 33% and therefore above the quality indicator of Major and Non-Major Development which stands at 10%.

The report also provides information on planning enforcement. The report pack states that the Planning Enforcement Team are responsible for investigating alleged breaches of planning control and taking action to remedy breaches of planning control and harm arising. The team receive on average 350 complaints per year. The report pack states that over the past 24 months one of the key priorities has been to work on the review and clearance of historic enforcement cases, some of which date back to 2010. The report pack states that in January 2023 there were 342 active cases from the past decade still active, and the figure in July 2025 is 126.

The report pack states that in 2025 to date (January to the end of June 2025) a total of 198 cases have been received, and 206 cases have been closed, and that the Local Authority currently have 638 live planning enforcement cases.

The report pack also provides information on the expediency test, which is aimed at assessing the breach, remedying breach, resolving the breach and formal action to resolve the breach if this is indeed required.

Land North of Royal Oak Meadow, Hornby

The committee will consider planning application 23/01399/FUL, concerning land north of Royal Oak Meadow in Hornby, Lancashire. Hornby Developments Limited are seeking planning permission for the erection of 23 dwellings with associated vehicular and pedestrian access, internal roads, infrastructure, open space, drainage and landscaping.

The application site is a roughly triangular site, which measures approximately 1.08 hectares, located on the northern periphery of the village of Hornby. The report pack states that it is a former greenfield site, previously used for grazing livestock, which benefits from an extant planning permission for 23 dwellings, and that work has commenced on site pursuant to the extant planning permission.

The A683 (Melling Road) borders the site to the north and west. The built-up part of Hornby is to the south and the site is otherwise surrounded by open countryside. Access to the site is via Royal Oak Meadow, a residential street, which itself is accessed from the A683 (Melling Road) further to the south.

The report pack states that the application site is within the Forest of Bowland National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It is also on land designated as Open Countryside which defines the rural areas of the district. The site is specifically allocated in the adopted Local Plan for housing (policy reference H2.1). The application site is in Flood Zone 1¹.

The report pack states that the proposed layout is the same as that approved pursuant to outline planning permission reference 15/01593/OUT, dated 18/04/2016, and the associated reserved matters approval reference 19/00320/REM, dated 19/10/2020. Together, these represent the extant permission at the site which is currently being implemented. The key difference between that extant permission and this current application relates to the level of affordable housing provision. The extant permission for 23 dwellings includes 9 on-site affordable units, whereas permission is now sought to provide 6 on-site affordable units, instead of 9.

The report pack states that when the application was initially submitted, it included neither affordable housing nor a financial contribution towards public open space, citing viability constraints, but that during the course of its determination, the proposal was revised to include six affordable units and a financial contribution towards off-site public open space enhancements.

The report pack lists a number of objections to the proposal, including from Hornby Parish Council, who object due to loss of green space and affordable housing. Other objections include:

• Impact from traffic on Royal Oak Meadow / Hornby Bank (poor road surface, narrowness, parked vehicles, access for emergency vehicles, children's safety).
• Access into Hornby Bank is too tight for larger vehicles / conflict with nearby uses such as bus stop and swimming pool.
• Insufficient parking provision.
• Current state of site.
• Developer should not have started work if they knew it was not viable.

The report pack states that the key considerations material to the determination of this application are as follows:

• Principle of development (including background)
• Housing (including affordable housing and viability, dwelling mix and housing standards)
• Landscape impact
• Design / layout (including sustainability)
• Trees and landscaping / green and blue infrastructure
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Open space provision
• Highways and transport
• Flood risk and drainage
• Amenity
• Mineral safeguarding
• Archaeology

The report pack states that the Council's current housing land supply stands at 2 years, as identified in the 2024 Interim Housing Land Supply Statement & Trajectory document, and that the Council acknowledges that this represents a significant shortfall in housing supply.

The planning officer's recommendation is that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and completion of Section 106 Agreement[^3].

30 Berwick Way, Heysham

The committee will also consider planning application 25/00949/FUL, concerning 30 Berwick Way in Heysham, Morecambe. Mr and Mrs Herring are seeking planning permission for a two-storey rear extension, installation of windows, window alterations and internal configuration.

The application site relates to 30 Berwick Way, a detached two-story dwelling located in the residential area of Heysham. The property is finished externally in red brick underneath a slate roof and is fitted with white upvc windows and doors. The property benefits from off street parking to the front with a private garden to the rear. Neighbouring dwellings are of similar form and appearance.

The report pack states that the application seeks planning permission for a two-storey rear extension measuring approximately 4.5 metres in width and 4 metres in depth, and that the extension will feature a pitched roof with an eaves height of 4.8 metres and a ridge height of 6.7 metres. External materials will match the existing dwelling, including brickwork and white uPVC windows and doors.

The report pack states that there are two windows proposed to the first floor side elevations, both white upvc to match the existing windows in the dwelling.

The report pack states that County Highways have raised concerns and requested for 3 off-street parking spaces to be provided.

The report pack states that the key considerations in the assessment of this application are:

• Design
• Residential Amenity
• Highways
• Ecology

The planning officer's recommendation is to approve with conditions, subject to the consultation period expiring and consideration of any submitted comments.