A new row of shops and apartments near a busy city junction look set for approval – despite dozens of objections against them.
Sapphire Properties is seeking to build on the site of a building collapse which took place last year and closed Blackpool Road in Ashton-on-Ribble when emergency services were called to the scene.
More of the site at 454-456 Blackpool Road, near Lane Ends, was demolished than had been planned as a result and fresh plans went in from owner Mick Patel for three new retail units at the ground floor level and six apartments on the upper floors.
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Tabling the plans in December for the former West’s carpet and interiors shop site the demolition was defended as the building had become ‘too dangerous to be left standing’ and in June last year defended what took place saying it was part of a ‘co-ordinated plan with emergency services’.
Concerns had been raised by a county councillor for the area about how the demolition took place amid a Health and Safety Executive investigation.
Previous plans had indicated the former carpet shop site had been due to become a café-bar with a two storey extension but this was shelved following the expanded demolition in May last year.
Councillors on Preston City Council’s planning committee are due to hear the proposals on Thursday (5 February) which have been recommended by planning officers for approval.
But the plans face dozens of objections from those living nearby with 55 objections in total.
Those objecting say it is an ‘overdevelopment of the site’, ‘there is no need for more than three retail units’ and concerns over what took place on site when the demolition was in progress.
Planning officers, recommending the scheme for approval, state: “The design, layout and appearance of the proposed development are considered acceptable and would integrate well into the site which is located within a Local Centre. It is not considered that there would be any detrimental impact on the viability and vitality of the Local Centre, the residential amenity of existing or future occupiers or on the design and appearance of the setting or waste management or flood risk.
“As the site is located within a highly sustainable location and the proposal includes the provision of cycle storage and highways mitigation measures, it is not considered that there would be any detrimental impact on highway safety.”
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