Sixth Annual Monitoring Report

Agricultural Land

3.45 23 planning permissions have been granted in areas designated as being of high quality agricultural land.  Many of these however (13) were for development in already established developed areas and for minor domestic extensions to existing houses in residential areas.  Others (8) were for uses which would not result in the irreversible development of high quality agricultural land and includes development for agricultural use itself. 

3.46 This report has picked up 2 approvals that need further comment.  One approval on Grade 3A land at Winstanley Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, is for Down Brook Minewater Treatment Scheme, incorporating an access road, pumping bore hole, settling pond and wetland area and ancillary buildings.  There is no scope for locating this development anywhere else as it serves Sandyforth farm land reclamation scheme.     There was 1 approval for the erection of stables on Grade 3A agricultural land in 2009/10.  Although this shows a reduction on last years figures, this type of development will still need careful monitoring to avoid any future trend resulting in harm to high quality agricultural land.