PLANS to change the use a west Cumbrian agricultural shed into food milk distribution centre if the application is approved next week.
It is for a site on land to the south of Whinnah Cottages in Lamplugh and members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee will consider the matter at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday (February 25).
According to the application it would also be used for agricultural storage and the application requests permission for a new access.
It will be placed before the committee because it raises planning policy issues as well as other relevant material planning considerations and the parish council has lodged an objection to the proposal.
It is recommended that the application is granted subject to planning conditions and, according to the report, the application relates to a detached agricultural building which lies to the south of a small collection of buildings known as Whinnah Cottages on the northern edge of Lamplugh village.
It adds: “Whinnah Cottages are Grade II listed buildings. The building is located within a hard surfaced yard and is accessed off a lane which runs past Whinnah Cottages and joins onto the A5086 approximately 80 metres to the north.
“The A5086 is a main highway that links Cockermouth to the north with Egremont to the south. An existing public right of way adjoins the northern boundary of the site.”
According to the report building was built on the site in 2019/2020 and it states: “The building replaced a smaller agricultural building which had occupied the site for a number of years. This was last used as a cattle distribution centre.”
“The application seeks retrospective permission for the use of the existing agricultural building for a mixed use comprising a food distribution centre/milk distribution facility and also for agricultural storage.
“The business is run by Watsons Dairies and involves the purchase of milk, associated dairy products and other food items which are then sold onto and delivered to local commercial businesses in the hospitality industry.
“Historically Watsons Dairies previously operated from another farm in Lamplugh and relocated to this site in 2019 once the tenancy agreement on the farm had ceased. The applicant owns other agricultural land around Lamplugh which is currently let out to a local farmer. ”
In a response from Lamplugh Parish Council a spokesman said: “Whilst in principle, the parish council is supportive of local business and necessary diversification to support the local economy and employment, such changes need to be carried out in a properly planned, environmentally acceptable and safe manner.
“The application seems to be a further dragging out of the process of determining the retrospective application for a change of use which was validated on the April 21, 2021, and is yet to be determined.
“The delay in determining appears to be as a result of the applicant failing to properly provide detail of suitable means for access and egress from the property.”
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The above application can be viewed at www.cumberland.gov.uk any representations should be submitted via the website or in writing to the Assistant Director, Thriving Places, Cumberland Council, Planning Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG.