Broughton Parish Council Press release 28th November 2025
30th of November, 2025
Broughton Parish Council Press release 28th November 2025
Broughton Parish Council expresses their deep disappointment at Preston City Council’s recommendation to refuse outline planning application 06/2025/0519 for land south of Whittingham Lane and west of James Towers Way. Despite only four objections being submitted, the application will be rejected primarily on policy and highways grounds rather than matters raised locally, which is particularly disheartening given the extensive work undertaken over the last three years to develop a scheme that responded directly to Broughton’s needs.
Over this period, the Parish Council held regular village information sessions, worked closely with the applicant, and consulted widely within the community to ensure the proposals reflected residents’ priorities. They also explored several alternative sites for new community infrastructure, as acknowledged in the planning report, but no other landowners were willing to engage, leaving this location as the only realistic and deliverable option for the facilities Broughton requires. This work also formed an important part of the evidence base for the ongoing Broughton Neighbourhood Development Plan Review, which seeks to ensure the parish has the right community facilities, green spaces and social infrastructure for the future.
From the outset, the Parish Council’s support for the proposal was rooted not in a desire for large-scale development, but in securing meaningful long-term benefits for the village. The plans included a purpose-built community building which would have provided a dedicated space for community groups, youth activities, health and wellbeing provision, public meetings, and local events meeting a need that has been consistently highlighted by residents for many years. The proposal also incorporated new allotments and substantial green infrastructure, offering opportunities for sustainable living, outdoor activity, and biodiversity improvements that would have strengthened local wellbeing and community connection. Additionally, the development proposed a modern care home which would have met the growing local need by enabling older residents to remain within. It also represented a valuable source of local employment and long-term social infrastructure.
The plans further sought to provide tangible support to Broughton-in-Amounderness Primary School through the transfer of land for staff parking an issue that is already challenging and is expected to worsen following the recent approval of the school’s expansion. The planning report recognised this benefit, even though it ultimately carried limited weight in the formal decision.
The refusal of the application means that, for now, all of these opportunities’ new community facilities, allotments, improved green space, additional school support, and local care provision are lost, despite the significant community engagement, research, and collaboration that shaped the plans. The Parish Council remains committed to ensuring that Broughton develops in a way that is sustainable, well-supported, and aligned with the needs of its residents. We will continue to explore every viable option to secure the infrastructure our village deserves and will keep our community fully informed as we take the next steps.
The application is formally listed for decision on Thursday 4 December 2025 at 2.00pm at the Planning Committee which is to be held at Preston Town Hall and is open to the public. The agenda is available alongside the planners report at www.preston.gov.uk/planningcommittee