PLANS to transform a garden centre and nursery site in the green belt to a holiday chalet park have been thrown out.
Full planning permission was sought from Warrington Borough Council in respect of White Moss Nursery and Garden Centre.
Applicant David Smith proposed a change of use of the land on South Lane in Cuerdley to create a chalet park.
This would have featured 33 modular holiday chalets, as well as associated car parking, landscaping, and roadway.
However, the scheme being inappropriate for the green belt and flood risk were among the reasons why council planners have refused to grant permission.
The site operated as a garden centre for over 25 years, but the council issued an enforcement notice in 2022 over the presence of shipping containers and additional hardstanding.
The required actions under the enforcement notice were carried out, and the affected area was cleared and reinstated.
Planning documents state: “The site comprises previously developed land currently occupied by a large collection of commercial glasshouses, sheds, hardstanding, and related infrastructure formerly associated with its use as a garden centre.
“The proposal seeks to sensitively redevelop this underutilised and partially derelict site with a landscape-led, rural tourism scheme that delivers measurable economic, environmental, and visual enhancements.
“The scheme is brought forward in response to sustained growth in Warrington’s visitor economy, and the regional strategy to expand overnight tourism provision.
“Data from Marketing Cheshire confirms rising visitor numbers, a shortage of overnight accommodation options, and a trend toward staycations and self-contained leisure breaks.
“The development supports these goals while removing low-quality structures and improving the site’s landscape character, ecological function, and accessibility.
“The site lies within the designated green belt but clearly qualifies as ‘grey belt’ under the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.
“It is previously developed, visually and physically contained, and does not perform a strong green belt function.
“It is also well related to surrounding built form and does not contribute to countryside sprawl or town merging.
“The proposal has been carefully formulated to ensure a net reduction in perceived built form, to safeguard openness, and to deliver planning and environmental betterment.”
Neighbours submitted five letters of objection, raising concern over the impact on the green belt, additional traffic strain, and highway safety.
In refusing permission, the council said: “It has not been demonstrated that the proposals would meet with any of the exceptions to inappropriate development.
“There is also conflict with the purposes of the green belt, and insufficient information has been submitted regarding the existing buildings on the site to demonstrate the level of harm to the openness of the green belt.
“The site is not considered to be sustainably or accessibly located for the proposed development.
“It has not been demonstrated that the development would ensure priority is given to walking, cycling, and public transport within its design, or that it would reduce the need to travel by private car.
“The proposed drainage scheme would result in increased flood risk to the highway and railway and, as such, it has not been demonstrated that the development would not result in increased flood risk.
“The proposal is for a major development, and it has not been demonstrated that the scheme would meet at least 10 per cent of its energy sources from renewable and/or other low carbon energy sources.”
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