Controversial plans to build a retail park in Workington can go ahead, the Government has ruled.
Port Derwent Properties wants to build the mixed-use development on land west of the existing Derwent Howe retail park and applied for outline planning permission.
It is understood it could create up to 75 jobs and would include a garden centre and national retailer has expressed an interest.
People were concerned that the land was a green corridor and ideal habitat for the rare Small Blue Butterfly.
Andrew Steeler, of Port Derwent Properties, appealed the decision, and the Planning Inspectorate has upheld the appeal.
The brownfield site was formerly used as part of the railway servicing the town’s steelworks.
Its vegetation includes kidney vetch, what the butterflies eat, and concerns were raised that by removing it would damage the butterflies’ chance of survival.
However, the planning inspectorate’s report said: “The council’s independent butterfly survey in 2019 indicated that patches of kidney vetch are small and discontinuous south of Solway Street (ie within the appeal site) but patches up to 10m2 do occur, albeit as a rather inconspicuous component of the sward.
“It also indicated that a higher level of kidney vetch exists on other parts of the corridor. Consequently, based on the council’s own evidence, it is clear that the
development site is not blanketed in kidney vetch and that the habitat for kidney vetch occurs in small, specific areas.
“The survey did highlight however, that the loss of habitat within the application site would result in a gap along the corridor of 815m which is greater than the
distance Small Blue butterflies are likely to fly. The survey, therefore, recommended the retention of the track bed and implementing a habitat management plan.”
At the development meeting in July 2022, councillors were told: “One of the mitigation measures that has been volunteered to try and address that was the provision of a substitute corridor.
“Furthermore, to that there is a series of islands to be retained as close as possible to the root of the railway line to provide a hopping station for the butterflies.”
The planning inspector said: “The proposals will safeguard an established butterfly colony at the northern edge of the site and introduce a new narrow butterfly corridor around the western perimeter of the site to retain connectivity for butterfly colonies using the habitat along the linear route of the former railway line.
“Consequently, I consider that the level of mitigation, together with the management plan is sufficient to mitigate for the loss of Small Blue Butterfly habitats.
“I have concluded that with suitable mitigation secured by condition, that the proposal would not have an adverse impact on the ecology and wildlife biodiversity value of the site and would provide a net gain in biodiversity.”
The development was also opposed due to the impact it may have on Workington town centre.
However, the planning inspector said: “On balance, the council concluded that the development is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on the town centre, subject to conditions to mitigate any potential impact. Based on the evidence in submissions, I have no reason to take a different view.”
