Affordable housing knocked back in Whalley

Ribble Valley Council has refused permission for Pringle Homes’ 77-home development off Clitheroe Road.

Going before Ribble Valley’s planning committee on Thursday 5 February, the site concerned lies north of Whalley, is unallocated, and lies outside of any defined settlement boundary.

Five grounds for refusal were recommended by planning officers, including habitat loss, lack of evidence over road noise, possible surface water flooding risk, poor design/inappropriate mix, and chiefly, “incongruous and discordant” development in open countryside.

All of these were upheld at committee, with a decision notice now published.

Advisers on the project included MCK Associates, Maybern Planning & Development, ERAP, ReFord, Martec and transport planner Mode

The proposals were opposed by Whalley Parish Council on over-development, being outside the settlement boundary and not being allocated in the local development plan, along with other issues.

The lead local flood authority agreed with one of these technical points, on drainage, raising and maintaining an objection. More than 170 letters were also received on the application.

The site is bounded to the north by Longsight Road (A59), to the east by agricultural land and further east Whalley Road (A671), to the south by residential development and to the west by Clitheroe Road.

It is currently accessed via a field gate on Clitheroe Road and is greenfield agricultural land last used for livestock grazing.

The applicant’s suggested housing mix was for eight one-bedroom flats across two blocks, four two-bedroom bungalows, 34 two bed dwellings, 26 three-bedroom dwellings and five four-bedroom dwellings.

As set out in the planning officer report, “the applicant had been advised that a significant reduction in the number of units would be required in order for officers to view the scheme more favourably.

“However an amended scheme put forward by the applicant saw a reduction of only nine units and did not address the officer concerns including in respect to matters of principle.”

Noting the strength of opposition, officers warned that amendments would require further consultation, saying that without this amended plans would not be accepted and the application would be determined based on the scheme first submitted.

The planning documents can be viewed on Ribble Valley’s planning portal with the reference 3/2025/0588.