Land Between Bermside Close And Woodhouse Lane Wigan

1. 1.The proposed development seeks to introduce an unrestricted Use Class E commercial, business and service use within a predominantly residential area. By reason of the nature of Use Class E, the proposal would allow a wide range of commercial, business and service activities to operate from the site without control. The proposal is considered unacceptable in principle in this location resulting in harm to residential amenity and undue pressures on highway capacity and safety which could not be mitigated through the imposition of conditions to restrict the range of Class E Uses. The proposal is therefore considered to be unacceptable in principle, contrary to requirements of Saved UDP Policy S1E (a) and (b), Core Strategy Policies CP7 and CP17, UDP Policy A1S, PfE Policies JP-C8 and JP- S1 and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.The proposed use by reason of its introduction of an unrestricted commercial, business or service activity within a predominantly residential area, would result in potential noise and disturbance and an intensification of activity and comings and goings that would be out of character with the surrounding area and harmful to the amenity of residential occupiers. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy CP17 of the Core Strategy and Policy JP-S1 of PfE and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. 3.The proposal relates to the construction of a shipping container unit for a flexible Class E Use which would positioned immediately adjacent to a cul de sac turning head on a residential estate. As a result of the proposed siting of the unit, the absence of any on-site customer and staff parking provision and insufficient clarity in regard to pedestrian access and servicing of the site, the proposals are cumulatively considered to result in on-street parking pressures and concern for pedestrian safety to the detriment of highway capacity and safety. This is contrary to the requirements of Core Strategy Policy CP7, saved UDP Policies A1S and S1E(a) the Council's Policy Note: Car Parking Standards for New Development, PfE Policies JP-S1 and JP-C8, together with the highways and accessibility related national policy objectives within the National Planning Policy Framework.
4. 4.The proposed siting and design of the shipping container for a commercial use would appear unduly prominent, incongruous and fail to assimilate into the prevailing residential character. This would result in an adverse harm to the visual amenity of the area and an unacceptable loss of open space which provides an important visual and physical separation between residential dwellings and the surrounding commercial units. In this respect the proposal is considered contrary to Core Strategy Policy CP10, Places for Everyone Policy JP-P1, the relevant design guidance within the Council's adopted SPDs and the design objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
5. 5.The proposed development is located within a defined Development High Risk Area for coal mining and within the potential zone of influence of a recorded mine shaft. In the absence of a Coal Mining Risk Assessment or any other supporting technical information and mitigations, the Local Planning Authority is not satisfied that the site is suitable for the proposed commercial use or that the development can be undertaken safely, without unacceptable risks to ground stability and public safety. The proposal therefore contains insufficient information to demonstrate that it would provide a safe and stable form of development and is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy CP17 of the Wigan Core Strategy, Saved UDP Policy EV1B and policies JP-S1 and JP-S4 of PfE.
6. 6.Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed development can be appropriately drained or that it would not give rise to increased flood risk, either on-site or elsewhere. The application fails to provide details of surface water drainage arrangements, the incorporation of sustainable drainage systems, or the provision of foul drainage and services associated with the proposed unit. In the absence of such information, the Local Planning Authority cannot be satisfied that the development would ensure the sustainable management of surface water, prevent flood risk, or protect the water environment. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies CP16 and CP17 of the Wigan Core Strategy and Policy JP-S5 of PfE and the National Planning Policy Framework in regard to sustainable drainage and flooding.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Full Details

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Wigan North

Date validated

16 December 2025

Consultation expiry

6 February 2026

Consultation start

16 January 2026

Consultation end

11 June 2026

Neighbour consultation start

8 January 2026

Neighbour consultation end

1 February 2026

Last date for comments

6 February 2026

Target decision date

10 February 2026

Agent address

311 Hesketh Lane Tarleton Preston PR4 6RJ

Statutory period

56 days

Planning Portal ID

PP-14336968

Documents

0

Constraints

1