Development potential assessment
Public consultation and development promotion
Planning appeals and public inquiries
Development plan representations
Who we work for
Industrial and commercial
Sports stadia
Portfolio Category: Industrial and Commercial
PWA PlanningAll ProjectsIndustrial and Commercial
Petrol and retail station in Lancashire
Client: A&F Investment Group
Location: Garstang
Sector: Industrial and Commercial
Project status: In progress
PWA Planning were retained in connection with the proposed redevelopment of Churchtown Service Station, Churchtown, Garstang.
A&F Investment Group operates various retail petroleum and convenience stores across the North West.
PWA advised on proposals to redevelop the existing Churchtown filling station in order to improve the quality of services available to customers. This included the replacement of dated petrol station pumps along with an increase in the scale of the retail shop, so that it could offer coffee shop, food outlet and office and storage facilities.
Challenges that were overcome through detailed pre-application and post-submission negotiations with the planners included; retail impact issues associated with the increased retail offer, loss of amenity to existing residents from increased activity, design of the new proposals and in particular highways related concerns. Each issue was pre-empted by PWA Planning and, through detailed application submissions, was satisfactorily resolved.
Change of use for café and restaurant in Chorley
Client: Rosie Posies Sandwich Bar
Location: Chorley, Lancashire
PWA Planning secured planning consent for a change of use of a former office building to a café restaurant in Chorley town centre.
PWA Planning advised a mother and daughter team who were hoping to establish a new café and restaurant within Chorley town centre. Initial feedback from the planning authority was not supportive, based on emerging retail and town centre planning policies and employment land supply issues, as well as challenging site constraints. Although small in scale, the submissions required responses on sequential testing and town centre protection policies. Skilled negotiations and strong planning arguments convinced the planning authority to support the proposal, despite their initial scepticism. Following the successful completion of negotiations, a positive planning approval and satisfaction of planning conditions, 'Rosie Posies' opened in 2015.
What our client said
"Thanks to PWA Planning my dream of running a café and sandwich bar with my daughter came true. I was always confident from the outset that Paul would get us the planning permission we needed because he was so knowledgeable in planning procedures. He always kept us informed at every stage and I cannot thank him enough for the support he gave me and my daughter throughout this very stressful time."
Mrs S Brown, Proprietor
Betting shops for BETSID
Client: The Rigby Organisation
Location: Various
PWA Planning has assisted BETSID in gaining planning permission for a number of sites across Lancashire, for change of use from office / retail premises into betting shops.
A number of vacant retail units have been brought back into use through change of use to betting shops by the locally-based betting office operator BETSID. PWA Planning took advantage of recent changes to the 'permitted development' regulations which allowed for a temporary change of use to betting office for a two year period. This has allowed planning authorities and local residents to get used to the new facilities. PWA Planning then followed up to make the schemes permanent.
The various approvals have ensured considerable new investment into several prominent town centre sites, which in most cases were previously vacant. Each site has brought its planning challenges, often related to loss of retail function and impact of proposed development, but despite this PWA has achieved a 100 per cent success rate.
"Betsid Ltd has worked with PWA Planning for almost two years. During this time they have successfully undertaken four successful applications for change of use to a licensed betting office. PWA has the knowledge and expertise to complete a quick and trouble-free application in a difficult and highly scrutinised class. We look forward to working with them again in the near future"
Paul Kirby, operations manager, BETSID
Headquarters building for transport company
Client: GBA Services
Location: Tarleton, Lancashire
Project status: TBC
PWA Planning was retained to co-ordinate the planning process in connection with the redevelopment of the former Bay Leaf public house site on the edge of Tarleton, to provide GBA Services with a new state-of-the-art headquarters building.
Following the continued growth of GBA Services, as one of the UK's most successful dedicated transport solutions providers, PWA Planning advised on proposals to create a new bespoke headquarters office building. A desire to stay within the Tarleton and Hesketh Bank areas meant that opportunities for new-build were limited. Eventually, the company settled on a highly visible site on the edge of Tarleton, but within the green belt.
The challenge for the design team, and in particular PWA Planning was, against the strong green belt protection policies, to seek to negotiate planning consent for a new building which was considerably larger than the building it replaced. PWA undertook detailed pre-application negotiations with the local planning authority and the subsequent planning application was supported by detailed arguments related to the "very special circumstances" associated with the proposal which allowed normal green belt policy to be put aside in favour of the development. Visual impact, heritage issues, design quality and most importantly local economic issues, were advanced in support of the proposals.
Major mixed-use sports and commercial scheme
Client: Mill Farm Ventures
Location: Wesham
Sector: Sports Stadia, Industrial and Commercial
PWA Planning was a key player in the submission of a major mixed-use sports and commercial development proposal in the Fylde coast.
Acting on behalf of landowners and promoters Mill Farm Ventures, PWA prepared, lodged and led the planning process in connection with a hybrid planning application for the 12 hectare site.
The scheme proposes a new stadium for AFC Fylde, a community sports facility, together with a major employment development, Aldi neighbourhood store and other complementary uses, including hotel, petrol filling station, public house and restaurant.
Working closely with officers of the council, as well as the key partners in the scheme, PWA was able to move from the pre-application stage to the full application proposals within a matter of months. A complex major scheme, the application was supported by a plethora of technical information; all of which was co-ordinated by PWA Planning.
Following months of detailed negotiations, planning permission was granted for the development in spring 2014. Since that time PWA has continued to work closely with the client and design team to negotiate amendments to the scheme and discharge of planning conditions, as well as diversion of rights of way and other associated planning matters.
PWA will be continuing to work closely with officers of Fylde Council and the client to see the delivery of this development during 2016 and beyond.
Convenience retail store and fast food restaurants
Client: Euro Garages
Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
Project status: Planning stage
PWA planning was commissioned by fast-growing forecourts operator Euro Garages to submit an outline planning application for the development of two drive through restaurants and a food retail store on the existing Barrowbrook Business Park, adjacent to the A59 on the outskirts of Clitheroe.
This site within the business park already benefited from extant planning permission for the construction of a self-storage warehouse and ancillary office facilities. However, this development held little prospect of commencing in the future leaving the land vacant and unused.
PWA Planning was brought on board to put forward a compelling case for an alternative and viable use for the site, successfully demonstrating the potential for significant job creation under the proposals for two drive-through restaurants and food retail store.
The proposals will help to ensure a mixed, balanced and sustainable economy for the business village and the wider area, and the intended use is expected to weather well against existing and future economic trends. A full planning application is currently being developed for the project following positive feedback from the planning officers.
Retail store and apartments on former pub site
Client: Whittle Estates Ltd
Location: Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley
On behalf of Whittle Estates Ltd, PWA Planning submitted a planning application for a retail store and four apartments on the site of the former Duke of York public house, Chorley Old Road, Whittle-le-Woods.
The site was designated under as a settlement area within the Chorley Local Plan. However, there was an area of existing open space to the north including two Areas of Safeguarded Land, as well as two notable strategic housing sites located within the surrounding area.
The siting of the proposed development was chosen carefully to minimise the impact on visual amenity and the environment, with great care being given to design a scheme which works with the existing topography and built features.
The planning statement prepared by PWA Planning required a rigorous and exhaustive look at all of the planning policies relevant to the land uses within this area of Chorley, and also their relevance and consistency to the National Planning Policy Framework.
PWA Planning prepared and commissioned technical reports to support the application, with particular emphasis on the merits of the scheme and its positive impacts on the surrounding environment.
New office headquarters for an international business
Client: EG Group
Project status: Planning approved
PWA Planning helped secure planning permission for a major new commercial development in Blackburn that will act as the new HQ for international forecourts operator EG Group.
PWA Planning worked with EG Group to secure planning permission for its new office building, along with two adjacent drive-through restaurants.
The scheme, close to the business' existing offices on the Beehive Trading Park, is expected to create around 300 jobs, 260 of them full-time posts.
The three-storey building, on a vacant site next to Fishmoor Reservoir at Haslingden Road, enjoys views over the reservoir. The offices will have an internal area of 8,335 square metres and feature private and open-plan offices, meeting and conference facilities, a staff canteen, external terraces and balconies.
The site will deliver new economic growth opportunities in line with Blackburn with Darwen Council's aspirations for the wider allocated Waterside employment site.
PWA worked closely with EG Group, officers at the council and other local stakeholders to secure a positive planning outcome.
"This new development will support our continued plans for expansion while allowing us to keep our HQ in Blackburn. Not only does this benefit our existing staff, it will support our aspirations to create new jobs in the town."
Zuber Issa, CEO of Euro Garages
New hotel and conferencing facilities
Client: Monte Blackburn Ltd
PWA Planning helped Monte Blackburn Ltd gain planning consent for a 150-bedroom hotel and associated conferencing and banqueting facilities as part of its wider Frontier Park development.
The 90-acre Frontier Park site is on the Blackburn and Hyndburn border and had been an undeveloped strategic site for the around 15 years before being acquired by Monte Blackburn, the private development company of EG Group founders Zuber and Moshin Issa.
The development is set to create up to 2,000 new jobs in the area with around one million sq ft of industrial and warehouse space, a petrol forecourt and retail operation and with drive-through restaurants.
Having already provided planning advice for the petrol and forecourt retail operation, PWA Planning was instructed to manage the planning application for the hotel, conferencing and banqueting part of the development and its associated car parking and landscaping works.
Sports-led green technology hub for Ecotricity
Client: Ecotricity
Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire
Project status: Planning submitted
PWA planning was retained to advise Ecotricity on proposals for a sports-led, green technology centre close to the M5 at Stroud. To be known as Eco Park, the development comprises a sports complex, including transport hub with park and ride, green technology hub and nature conservation area. The principal aspect of the development will be the sports complex, which will be the new home of Forest Green Rovers Football Club. This will be supported and complemented by the green technology hub that will act as an exemplar business and commercial site. A nature conservation area will be implemented to ensure an enhancement of biodiversity across the site as a whole. It is anticipated that the proposed development could create up to 3,900 full time jobs with estimated construction costs of up to £100 million.
PWA Planning prepared and submitted an outline planning application for the proposed development. As part of this instruction, PWA undertook Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening and scoping and have co-ordinated the preparation of a detailed Environmental Statement (ES) to support the planning application. The application submissions are also supported by a comprehensive planning statement which responds to planning policy and development management issues associated with the proposed development.
"Eco Park is going to be a place where green businesses and technology companies come together and share ideas, a real focal point of creativity and innovation for the area – and a part of the green industrial revolution that's beginning to take off around the world."
Dale Vince, OBE, Ecotricity founder
Hotel, leisure and retail scheme at Grade 2 listed mill site
Client: Stanton Andrews Limited / Emporia Leisure
Project status: Planning consent secured / Development in progress
PWA Planning advised Stanton Andrews on a number of planning aspects of this mixed-use scheme which is seeing the redevelopment of the historic Holmes Mill into a hotel, restaurant, brewery and taps, function rooms, office, gym, spa and retail units.
Lancashire-based architects Stanton Andrews led this this exciting £10m scheme on behalf of Emporia Leisure, owner of Bowland Brewery and James' Places, the regional hotel chain which owns and manages numerous historic properties.
PWA Planning was brought in to assist Charles Stanton of Stanton Andrews in getting this job 'over the line' in the final deliberations with the local authority on the drafting of the planning conditions specific to this ambitious scheme.
The development, of almost 100,000 sq ft, will breathe new life into the mill, which dates back to 1823, and is expected to create around 150 new jobs.
Bowland Brewery relocated into one of the mill buildings on site two years ago. The new brewery installation, which is four times the size of the existing, is being relocated into the redeveloped scheme.
The new beer hall at the site opened in July 2016 and the rest of the development will be opening in the coming months.
"This multi-million-pound development will make a significant beneficial impact on the town's economy as well as bringing long disused heritage assets back into productive use. We're grateful to PWA Planning for their specialist advice that allowed us to secure this important planning consent and go ahead with the development."
Charles Stanton, director, Stanton Andrews Limited
Do you need expert planning advice to get your development moving?
PWA Planning is a trading name of Paul Walton Associates Ltd.
PWA Planning
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Preston PR2 2YS
info@pwaplanning.co.uk
Copyright © 2015 PWA Planning
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