Controversial plans for a storage compound capable of housing up to 254 cars in the Lake District are set to get the go-ahead.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority are recommended to delegate authority to officers to approve the application from Lloyd Motor Group to provide 254 car storage spaces for use by local dealerships next to the existing South Lakes BMW dealership near Lindale.
The proposed 2.38-hectare site is currently undeveloped land and is bounded by the A590 to the north and undeveloped land to the south.
Lloyd Group said it would address the insufficient vehicle compound space to serve the nearby workshop and showroom facilities.
A report by planning officers concluded: “The proposal is adjacent to and related to an existing business use in the countryside of the Lake District National Park. The development would help to sustain the existing business.
“The proposals involve the development of currently undeveloped land, but is accompanied by appropriate mitigation measures in the form of landscaping and management.”
However, Lindale and Newton Parish Council voted not to support to the new plans due to the loss of open countryside and agricultural land.
The parish council also raised concerns the proposals would create a precedent for further development on the approach to the village.
Plans for a 2.13-hectare site were previously turned down by the authority in August due to concerns the proposal would have adverse visual and landscape effects.
The decision notice for the previous proposals said: “The proposed car storage use is likely to be visible and intrusive in this location. The landscaping proposed would not be sufficient to properly enclose and adequately screen the use.
“There is a lack of any screening to the east side. Security fencing and lighting would further exacerbate the adverse appearance. The access arrangements would also have adverse landscape and visual effects.”
The new plans said a 5m-wide landscaping strip to the north west site boundary and an 8m-wide strip to the south east site boundary provides screening and will create a wildlife zone.
According to plans, vehicles would be delivered to the site using car transporters to the existing access which serves the BMW dealership. It is proposed a spur road will link the storage facility with the dealership.
The planning application will be discussed by the development control committee at Murley Moss, the national park’s HQ, on February 5.
